What does indeterminate mean?
Indeterminate is an adjective meaning that something is not yet definite, certain, or clearly understood. It commonly describes questions, results, causes, and outcomes that cannot be resolved from the available evidence. The word is also used in technical contexts: in mathematics, an indeterminate form appears to have no definite value at first glance but may be investigated further; in law, an indeterminate sentence does not specify a fixed term of imprisonment. Indeterminate is more formal than some everyday alternatives and often carries a neutral implication of uncertainty rather than suggesting that no answer will ever exist. It is useful because it distinguishes what is not yet known from what has been positively disproved, while also marking information that is vague, unresolved, or insufficiently precise.
adjectiveNot definite, certain, or clear; unable to be determined. In mathematics, it describes an expression whose value or limit cannot be assigned without further analysis.
- Unable to be determined or known with certainty.
- Not clearly defined, precise, or fixed in form.
- In mathematics, denoting an expression or limit that requires further analysis.
"The cause of the failure remains indeterminate despite weeks of investigation."
"The investigators could offer only an indeterminate explanation for the unusual readings."
"After simplifying the expression, they encountered the indeterminate form 0/0 and applied L'Hôpital's rule."
In mathematics, an indeterminate form is not necessarily an error—it is a signal to investigate more carefully.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does indeterminate come from?
Indeterminate comes from Latin indeterminatus, meaning “undetermined,” formed from the prefix in-, expressing negation, and determinare, “to determine.” The English word entered use in the early modern period and developed alongside related forms such as determine and determinate, all sharing the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How indeterminate is actually used
Generally formal or technical. It can suggest that available evidence is insufficient, but it does not necessarily mean that a phenomenon has no explanation; mathematical and legal uses are especially established.
Easily confused with indeterminate
Indeterminate describes a question, result, or situation that cannot be settled, whereas undetermined often describes a specific decision or course of action that has not yet been made.
Indeterminate means that something is unknown or unresolved, while indefinite more often means that its extent, duration, or limits have not been specified.