[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/indefinite/)

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# indefinite

adjective

«indefinite» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not clear or exact: an indefinite answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/#m1)
2. Without a fixed end or limit: an indefinite stay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/#m2)
3. (grammar) «indefinite article» = «a» or «an». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/#m3)

### In the lessons

In grammar lessons «a» and «an» are indefinite articles and «the» is the definite article; in news something closed «for an indefinite time» means nobody knows when it will open. Phrases: «indefinite article», «for an indefinite period», «indefinitely».

### Examples

- The pool is closed for an indefinite time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/#x1)
- «A» and «an» are indefinite articles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/#x2)
- Her plans were indefinite. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/#x3)
- He went to stay with his aunt for an indefinite period. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/#x4)
- We say «a cat» because the cat is indefinite — any cat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/#x5)
- The match was put off indefinitely. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/#x6)
- Nyx again, on her side was also doubly united, having been married at some indefinite period to Erebus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/#x7)

### Note

Prefix in- = not: indefinite = not definite. Adverb: indefinitely (= with no end set). In maths, an «indefinite» number is not given — you cannot work out an exact total without it.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «indefinite» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indefinite/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«indefinite» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/indefinite.html) on Mova free.