indetermination

US: /ˌɪndɪˌtɝməˈneɪʃən/ ,(in′di tûr′mə nā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•de•ter•mi•na•tion  (in′di tûr′mə nā′shən), n. 

1. the quality or condition of being indeterminate.
2. an unsettled state, as of the mind.

• indeterminate + -ion 1610–20

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•de•ter•mi•nate /ˌɪndɪˈtɜrmənɪt/   adj. 

1. not precisely fixed or determined:
   an indeterminate shape in the distance.
2. not settled in advance:
   The acting principal will serve for an indeterminate time.

in•de•ter•mi•na•cy /ˌɪndɪˈtɜrmənəsi/  n. [uncountable]
in•de•ter•mi•nate•ly, adv. 
in•de•ter•mi•nate•ness, n. [uncountable]
in•de•ter•mi•na•tion /ˌɪndɪˌtɜrməˈneɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -term-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•de•ter•mi•nate  (in′di tûr′mə nit), adj. 

1. not determinate;
   not precisely fixed in extent;
   indefinite;
   uncertain.
2. not clear;
   vague.
3. not established.
4. not settled or decided.
5. [Math.]
   • Mathematics (of a quantity) undefined, as 0/0.
   • Mathematics (of an equation) able to be satisfied by more than one value for each unknown.
6. Botany (of an inflorescence) having the axis or axes not ending in a flower or bud, thus allowing further elongation.

n. 

7. Mathematics something whose value is not specified: used esp. in abstract algebra;
   a variable.

• Late Latin indēterminātus. See in-³, determinate
• Middle English 1350–1400

in′de•ter′mi•nate•ly, adv. 
in′de•ter′mi•nate•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. ambiguous.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

indeterminate / ˌɪndɪˈtɜːmɪnɪt/ adjective

1. uncertain in extent, amount, or nature
2. not definite; inconclusive: an indeterminate reply
3. unable to be predicted, calculated, or deduced
4. having no numerical meaning, as 0.00 or 0/0
5. (of an equation) having more than one variable and an unlimited number of solutions

ˌindeˈterminacy, ˌindeˌtermiˈnation, ˌindeˈterminateness noun

ˌindeˈterminately adverb