indefinite definition

English indefinite definition

Etymology

From Late Latin indēfīnītus.

Morphologically in- +‎ definite.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪt/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• Hyphenation: in‧def‧i‧nite

Adjective

indefinite (comparative more indefinite, superlative most indefinite)

1. Without limit; forever, or until further notice; not definite.

   Your accout will be suspended for an indefinte period of time.

2. Vague or unclear.

   She gave an indefinite answer which nobody really understood.

3. Undecided or uncertain.

   I'm still indefinite about what I'm going to study at college.

4. (mathematics) Being an integral without specified limits.

   Don't forget to add the +C when calculating indefinite integrals.

5. (linguistics) Designating an unspecified or unidentified person or thing or group of persons or things

   the indefinite article

Synonyms

• (without limit): unlimited, unrestricted
• (vague or unclear): hazy; see also Thesaurus:indistinct or Thesaurus:vague
• (undecided or uncertain): indeterminate, unsettled, indecisive, unsure
• (an integral without specified limits):
• (designating an unspecified thing):

Derived terms

Related terms

• indeterminate

Translations

Noun

indefinite (plural indefinites)

1. (grammar) A word or phrase that designates an unspecified or unidentified person or thing or group of persons or things.

Italian indefinite definition

Adjective

indefinite f pl

1. feminine plural of indefinito

Latin indefinite definition

Adjective

indēfīnīte

1. vocative masculine singular of indēfīnītus

References

• “indefinite”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• indefinite in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette