Underdefinition

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of being insufficiently defined, where the boundaries or details of something are left vague or unclear
2. A shortage of precise description or clear outline, leaving a concept, object or set of rules only loosely specified
3. Vagueness that results from too little specification, so that something lacks the sharpness needed to be fully understood

Etymology: "Underdefinition" is a plain compound: the prefix "under-" joined to "definition," the noun for the act of stating precisely what a thing is or means. The prefix "under-" carries the sense of "insufficient" or "not enough," so the word describes a definition that falls short of the clarity needed. Its meaning therefore follows directly from its parts, with no surprising shift from an earlier sense.