Word of the day · 7 June 2026
nebulous
/ˈnɛbjələs/
adjective
Vague or ill-defined; cloudy in form or meaning.
In a sentence
- The brief stayed nebulous about budget and deadline.
- He offered only a nebulous defense of the change.
- Through the fog the shoreline looked nebulous and distant.
In an image
Origin
From Latin nebulosus (misty, cloudy), from nebula (mist, cloud).
History
Astronomers still use related forms for cloudy patches of light in the sky. In ordinary English nebulous describes plans, rules and feelings that lack clear edges. It is a fair critique when a promise sounds impressive but will not specify. The mist image keeps the metaphor honest.
Nearby words
vague · hazy · indistinct
Ideas and outlines that will not come into focus.