Difference between 'ambiguous' and 'arbitrary'?

[Drox]

Ambiguous - open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance

Arbitrary - based on or subject to individual discretion or preference


They seem like they mean the same thing. What's the difference?

[ChinaCat]

Ambiguous generally is used to say that you cant really tell what something means, there is not enough information.

Meanwhile arbitrary isnt saying you dont know what it means, but more commonly to say that what someone is saying has no relevance, and maybe based purely on opinion or something along those lines.

[crazzyass]

Ambiguous - open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance

Arbitrary - based on or subject to individual discretion or preference


They seem like they mean the same thing. What's the difference?

Arbitrary is much more similar to random or subjective, while ambiguous is more about the fact that there isn't enough information to make a clear decision or difference.

[AdMech]

You can't go wrong if you think of ambiguous as uncertain; arbitrary as random.

The judge's decision was ambiguous - you're not certain which interpretation to give it.

The judge's decision was arbitrary - you understand it alright, and it wasn't based on logic.

[ChinaCat]

Wow 3 wonderful replies.

[AdMech]

Wow 3 wonderful replies.
Right on. Didn't even really need to say anything after yours, but I thought what the hell. :cool:

[crazzyass]

It's pleasing to see that Zoklet has such linguistically articulated members. :cool:

[Drox]

I'm still having trouble processing this.

If something is ambiguous, it's uncertain as there can be more than one meaning.

But if something is arbitrary, it's still uncertain, because it was random.

[Jack]

I'm glad to witness such articulatedly lingusitic registrants on Zoklet. :bluecool:

Drox, not quite. In usage, as I understand, ambiguous refers to lack of distinct meaning or understanding.

The point is ambiguous. [not sure what the point is; vague]
His statement is ambiguous. [also vague]

Arbitrary means that something has been based on subjective decision, impulse, pseudorandom choice, etc.
If you come to a fork in the road, don't know which way is which, and decide to take the left fork on a whim, because fuck if you know whether it's the right one to take and it has an equal chance anyway, you've made an arbitrary decision.

[AdMech]

We kick ass. :cool: I'm so eloquent...

@Drox: Well, it's not necessarily uncertain if it's arbitrary, at least after the event. Adding to what Jack said:

"His statement was arbitrary" - it's not vague at all; you understand it; but it wasn't based on any discernible reasoning. It seemed to be random.

[Miluardo]

I'm down with ferret on this one.

[ChinaCat]

I'm still having trouble processing this.

If something is ambiguous, it's uncertain as there can be more than one meaning.

But if something is arbitrary, it's still uncertain, because it was random.

Yes i do see your point in how their meanings DO overlap a little bit, but its only a little bit, i beleive you may be overthinking it too much.

Yes i suppose that an arbitrary response to a topic or w/e still leaves uncertainty such as is the case with an ambiguous response, but the difference is that when something is arbitrary it doesnt answer the question simply because it had nothing or little to do with the question, an ambiguous response isnt by nature irrelevant (although it could be as well), but leaves uncertainty because there is doubt to the meaning of the response.

You get what im trying to say?