Word · CEFR C1 · Frequency #11948
indefinite
无限期的；无期限的
without a fixed limit; lasting for an unknown or unlimited period of time
- 1.
Without limit; forever, or until further notice; not definite.
- 2.
vague or not clearly defined or stated
模糊的；不明确的
- 3.
Vague or unclear.
- 4.
not decided or not known
未决定的；未知的
- 5.
Undecided or uncertain.
- 6.
Being an integral without specified limits.
- 7.
Designating an unspecified or unidentified person or thing or group of persons or things.
模糊的；不明确的；未决定的；不确定的；不定的；不定积分的；未决定的；未知的
In use
The project timeline remains indefinite due to budget uncertainties.
She gave an indefinite answer, leaving everyone confused about her plans.
The indefinite number of participants made it difficult to arrange seating.
must you be so indefinite?
amorphous blots of color having vague and indefinite edges
he would not answer so indefinite a proposal
were indefinite about their plans
plans are indefinite
indefinite + noun
Connections
Collocations
- indefinite article
- 不定冠词
- 'A' is the indefinite article in English.“A”是英语中的不定冠词。
- indefinite period
- 无限期
- The contract is for an indefinite period.合同是无限期的。
- indefinite leave
- 无限期休假
- She is on indefinite leave from her position.她正在无限期休假。
- indefinite detention
- 无限期拘留
- The government's policy of indefinite detention has been widely criticized.政府无限期拘留的政策受到广泛批评。
- indefinite postponement
- 无限期推迟
- The committee announced the indefinite postponement of the meeting.委员会宣布无限期推迟会议。
- indefinite strike
Learner notes
Memory Tip
in（不）+ definite（确定的，有限的）→ 不确定的、无限期的。想象一份合同没写截止日期，时间“不定”。
Context & Register
语域：formal 常见场景：official announcements、legal documents、news reports 作“无限期的、没有明确期限”讲时，多用于正式或书面场合，通常出现在官方公告、法律文书和新闻报道中。日常口语较少单用 indefinite，可搭配 period 或直接用副词 indefinitely。
Grammar Note
作定语或表语；后接about表示在某方面不确定。
Pronunciation & Spelling
与 indefinite 真正押韵的是 definite（/ˈdɛfənət/），因为重读元音及之后部分相同。infinite、finite、appetite、termite 虽拼写含 -ite，但发音分别为 /ˈɪnfənət/、/ˈfaɪnaɪt/、/ˈæpɪtaɪt/、/ˈtɜːmaɪt/，与 indefinite 的 /-ənət/ 不同。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY.