uneindeutige

Uneindeutige is an attributive form of the German adjective uneindeutig, which means not clearly defined or open to multiple interpretations. In everyday language and in scholarly discourse, uneindeutig describes statements, data, signs, or formulations that do not have a single, definite meaning. The opposite term is eindeutig, meaning unambiguous or clear.

Etymology and meaning

The word is built from the prefix un- (negation) and eindeutig (clear, definite). The resulting uneindeutig characterizes something that cannot be interpreted in a uniquely determined way. When used as uneindeutige, it typically appears before a noun to indicate that the thing described lacks unequivocal clarity.

Usage and nuances

Uneindeutige is common in journalism, science, philosophy, law, and everyday conversation. It signals caution, suggesting that conclusions should be tentative or that further explanation and evidence are required. It can refer to ambiguous wording, unclear data, or complex situations with multiple plausible interpretations. The noun form Uneindeutigkeit denotes the property of ambiguity itself.

Related concepts

Related terms include eindeutig (unambiguous), zweideutig (twofold or doubly ambiguous), and mehrdeutig (multivalent or polysemous). In academic contexts, more precise distinctions may be made between linguistic ambiguity, logical ambiguity, and interpretive ambiguity, but uneindeutig generally conveys a lack of a single, clear meaning.

Examples

- Die Ergebnisse sind uneindeutig, weitere Untersuchungen sind nötig.

- Die Formulierung ist uneindeutig und lässt mehrere Interpretationen zu.

See also

Uneindeutigkeit, Eindeutigkeit.