amphibology
1
9.9
A sentence or phrase that can be read in more than one way
- noun
- /æmˈfɪbələdʒi/
- Specialized
:
anfibología
- The lawyer pointed out an amphibology in the contract that could be interpreted in two different ways.
Examples
-
Her statement was an amphibology that could mean either she agreed or disagreed with the proposal.
-
Dad, you're speaking in amphibologies again.
Fiction book (1996) -
The instructions were filled with amphibology, leading to confusion about what to do next.
Synonyms
ambiguity
vsamphibology
54
6.3
A lack of clear meaning that allows people to understand it in different ways
is specific to grammatical phrasing that creates more than one reading
1
9.9
A sentence that allows more than one meaning
refers to an entire phrase or sentence causing multiple interpretations
equivocalness
vsamphibology
9.5
A situation where something has more than one meaning and causes confusion
is the narrower grammatical case of that general uncertainty in wording
How Ambiguous
Surface Forms
amphibology singular
amphibologies plural
Etymology
The word amphibology comes from the Greek parts amphi- meaning 'both', as in amphibian, and a part meaning 'to throw'. So, amphibology pictures a phrase 'thrown' two ways, which is why it means a sentence that can be read in more than one way.