Onduidelijk

Onduidelijk is a Dutch adjective meaning not clear or difficult to understand. It describes information, statements, instructions, or situations that lack clarity, precision, or sufficient detail. In translation, it is commonly rendered as unclear or obscure.

Etymology and usage: Onduidelijk is formed from the negating prefix on- attached to duidelijk, the Dutch word for clear. It can be used both predicatively, as in Het verhaal is onduidelijk, and attributively, as in een onduidelijke uitleg, to describe a phenomenon or communication as lacking clarity. The term often implies a combination of ambiguity, vagueness, and missing or insufficient information rather than a simple factual error.

Nuance and related terms: Onduidelijk differs from vaag (vague) in that it emphasizes lack of clear signals, evidence, or interpretable content, which may make understanding difficult. The noun onduidelijkheid denotes the state or quality of being unclear or uncertain. The opposite is duidelijk (clear or evident). In practical use, onduidelijk can apply to text, rules, plans, instructions, remarks, or situational descriptions.

Contexts: The word appears in everyday language, journalism, education, and official communication. It is often used to flag information that requires clarification, revision, or additional detail. In formal or legal contexts, stating that a clause or provision is onduidelijk may prompt further specification to resolve interpretation issues.