vague

adjective \ ˈvāg \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of vague

vaguer; vaguest

1 a : not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms

vague accusations

b : not having a precise meaning

a vague term of abuse

2 a : not clearly defined, grasped, or understood : indistinct

only a vague notion of what's needed

; also : slight

a vague hint of a thickening waistline

hasn't the vaguest idea

b : not clearly felt or sensed : somewhat subconscious

a vague longing

3 : not thinking or expressing one's thoughts clearly or precisely

vague about dates and places

4 : lacking expression : vacant

vague eyes

a vague stare

5 : not sharply outlined : hazy

met by vague figures with shaded torchlights
—Earle Birney

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vaguely

adverb

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vagueness

noun

See vague defined for English-language learners

See vague defined for kids

Examples of vague in a Sentence

When my three years of military service ended, I looked around for some way to get to spend time in rural Vietnam as a civilian. The driving force was still primarily intellectual curiosity, along with a desire to improve my language ability in a non-Western language and some vague idea of doing folkloristic or literary studies in the future. —Neil L. Jamieson, Understanding Vietnam, (1993) 1995
There are vague memories in our souls of those misty centuries when the world was in its childhood. —Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet, 1887
At the end of half an hour Tom had a vague general idea of his lesson, but no more, for his mind was traversing the whole field of human thought, and his hands were busy with distracting recreations. —Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876
It thrilled him with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the dusky shroud, there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him, while he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black. —Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843
The instructions she left were vague and difficult to follow.
He gave only a vague answer.
The judges determined that the law was too vague to be fairly enforced.
She has been vague about her plans for college.
We had only a vague idea of where we were.
I think I have a vague understanding of how it works.
He longed in some vague way for something different.
She felt a vague sense of uneasiness when she was around him.
I had the vague impression that they were withholding information.
We could just barely make out the vague outline of a plane in the sky.

Recent Examples of vague from the Web

The Security Council is expected to address the attacks on Syria after rival requests from the U.S. and the Russian Federation, although Russia's request for the meeting seemed intentionally vague.

— linley sanders, Teen Vogue, "The U.S. Slammed Russia and the Syrian Government After an Alleged Chemical Attack," 9 Apr. 2018
The vague statement regarding Buckingham's abrupt departure came at the same time the band announced that musicians Mike Campbell and Neil Finn would be joining the band on tour.

— chloe melas, CNN, "Lindsey Buckingham departs Fleetwood Mac," 9 Apr. 2018
What happens next is left intentionally but unsatisfyingly vague by the director, John Curran, and the writers, Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan, both in their feature debuts.

— joe morgenstern, WSJ, "‘Chappaquiddick’ Review: Tragedy Without Clarity," 5 Apr. 2018
General Rios Montt upset civilian leaders by banning political parties and becoming increasingly vague about leaving power.

— john otis, BostonGlobe.com, "Efrain Rios Montt, 91, Guatemalan dictator convicted of genocide," 1 Apr. 2018
Speaking privately after the event, Manfred was vague about big league ball coming to the largest American city still without it.

— roy bragg, San Antonio Express-News, "MLB’s Manfred talks baseball in San Antonio," 27 Mar. 2018
Airline representatives are particularly vague about the terms.

— christopher elliott, USA TODAY, "Airline offering a voucher? Just say no!," 18 Mar. 2018
Putin was vague about reforms that might raise economic potential in the years beyond.

— miriam matthews, Newsweek, "Putin's Boasting About Nuclear Weapons Won't Help Him In The Russian Election," 15 Mar. 2018
The phrase has been left deliberately vague for years.

— anne gearan, Washington Post, "‘Denuclearization’ may be the goal of U.S.-North Korean summit, but each side defines it differently," 14 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vague.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of vague

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, going back to Old French, "wandering, vagabond," borrowed from Latin vagus "moving freely, wandering," perhaps akin to Old High German wankōn "to totter, stagger," winkan "to waver, stagger, wink," Old English wincian "to close the eyes" — more at ¹wink

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1661

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

vague Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of vague

obscure, dark, vague, enigmatic, cryptic, ambiguous, equivocal mean not clearly understandable. obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

- obscure poems

dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

- muttered dark hints of revenge

vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

- a vague sense of obligation

enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

- enigmatic occult writings

cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

- cryptic hints of hidden treasure

ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

- an ambiguous directive

equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

- moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

VAGUE Defined for English Language Learners

vague

adjective

Definition of vague for English Language Learners

: not clear in meaning : stated in a way that is general and not specific
: not thinking or expressing your thoughts clearly or precisely
: not completely formed or developed

VAGUE Defined for Kids

vague

adjective \ ˈvāg \

Definition of vague for Students

vaguer; vaguest

1 : not clearly expressed

a vague answer

2 : not clearly understood or sensed

They knew in a vague way what they wanted.

3 : not clearly outlined

At first Rosalind could see only vague shapes …
—Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks

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vaguely

adverb

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vagueness

noun

Law Dictionary

vague

adjective \ ˈvāg \

legal Definition of vague

: characterized by such a lack of precision that a person of ordinary intelligence would have to guess if particular conduct is being proscribed : characterized by a failure to describe forbidden conduct in terms sufficient to provide fair warning