When you determine something, you decide on what it is, which means you put limits or boundaries on its identity. So something indeterminate lacks identifying limits. A mutt is usually …

INDETERMINATE definition: not determinate; not precisely fixed in extent; indefinite; uncertain. See examples of indeterminate used in a sentence.

If law is indeterminate, then judges are unconstrained by law in their decision-making.

If something is indeterminate, you cannot say exactly what it is. Dr Amid was a man of indeterminate age. I hope to carry on for an indeterminate period.

Dec 26, 2025 · Adjective indeterminate (comparative more indeterminate, superlative most indeterminate) Not accurately determined or determinable.

Definition of indeterminate adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

indeterminate /ˌɪndɪˈtɜːmɪnɪt/ adj uncertain in extent, amount, or nature not definite; inconclusive: an indeterminate reply unable to be predicted, calculated, or deduced having no numerical …

Not precisely fixed, as to extent, size, nature, or number. An indeterminate number of plant species in the jungle.

indeterminate adjective uncertain, indefinite, unspecified, vague, inconclusive, imprecise, undefined, undetermined, inexact, unfixed, unstipulated I hope to carry on for an indeterminate …

There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective indeterminate, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.