Definition:
“A word or expression that can be understood in two or more possible ways: an ambiguous word or expression”
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambiguity. Accessed 29 Aug. 2022.
Informal Definition:
Ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning. Ambiguous words or ideas lead to vagueness and confusion and shape the basis for instances of unintentional humor.
Example: “Foreigners are hunting dogs”
[It is unclear whether dogs were being hunted, or foreigners are being spoken of as dogs.]
Etymology:
From Old Latin ambiguus means doubtful
The first known use of the word was during the 14th century. “Philosophers’ interest in ambiguity stems from several sources, ranging from an intense interest in logical representation to pragmatic, political, and ethical concerns about how we use language to communicate.”
"Ambiguity." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 16 May 2011. Accessed 31 Aug. 2022.