nebulous

Definition

Vague, unclear, or ill-defined; lacking definite form or limits. Nebulous ideas or concepts are hazy and difficult to grasp precisely.

Etymology

From Latin 'nebulosus' meaning 'misty, foggy,' from 'nebula' meaning 'mist' or 'cloud.' Astronomers still use 'nebula' for cosmic clouds of gas and dust, and the figurative meaning captures that same sense of something visible but without clear boundaries.

Learn this word in a 5-minute lesson

Hook, Story, Wonder, Action, Wisdom — one word at a time.

Start Today's Lesson — Free

No account required. 365 lessons across 19 languages.

Try another word →

For Developers

Access this word programmatically via the Word Orb API. Free tier: 10,000 calls/day, no credit card.

curl https://api.wordorb.ai/api/word/nebulous View API Pricing →