When something is indistinct, it's unclear, blurry, or hard to make out. If you're trying to read your friend's handwriting and the letters are messy and run together, the writing is indistinct. When someone mumbles and you can't understand what they're saying, their words are indistinct.

The word describes anything that lacks clear boundaries or definition. On a foggy morning, buildings in the distance might look indistinct, their shapes fuzzy and hard to recognize. An old photograph might have become indistinct with age, its images faded and unclear. Sometimes memories become indistinct over time: you might remember going to the beach as a small child, but the specific details feel vague and hazy.

Indistinct combines “in” (meaning “not”) with “distinct” (meaning “clear and separate”). So when something is indistinct, it's the opposite of clear and easy to perceive. You might hear an indistinct murmur of voices from another room, knowing people are talking but unable to make out the actual words. A teacher might tell you to speak more clearly if your answer is indistinct. The word suggests that something exists but can't quite be grasped or understood with precision.