Etymologically
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unclear

Etymology and origin of the English word unclear

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1300

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ʌnˈklɪə/, US /ʌnˈklɪr/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from un- and clear.[2][3] Similar formations are Middle Dutch onclaer, Dutch onklaar, German unklar, Danish uklar and Swedish oklar.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Not easy to understand: about 1300.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Not obvious, open to doubt, is from the early 15th century.[2] Not free of fault or blame (before 1400) and dark or thick (about 1400) are old senses,[4] and Middle English also used it for morally impure or guilty.[2] Of persons, uncertain or doubtful about something, it is from 1671.[4][2]

Timeline

  • c. 1300 – hard to understand.[2]
  • before 1400 – not free of blame.[4]
  • early 15th century – open to doubt.[2]
  • 1671 – of persons, uncertain.[4]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Not clear or definite; ambiguous.
  2. Not known or settled: it is unclear how much support they have.
  3. Of a person, uncertain about something.

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Unclear.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/unclear. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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