Broad vs. Vague — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 29, 2024
Broad encompasses a wide range of aspects or elements; vague lacks clarity and specificity, making comprehension difficult.
Difference Between Broad and Vague
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Broad often describes concepts or categories that include a large variety of elements or instances, allowing for inclusivity in discussion or classification. Whereas, vague refers to descriptions or ideas that are unclear and imprecisely defined, leading to ambiguity and misunderstanding.
When information is presented in a broad manner, it can cover a wide scope without focusing on details, making it useful for general understanding. On the other hand, when details are vague, it can be challenging to grasp the specifics or apply the information effectively.
In communication, using broad terms can facilitate discussions that encompass multiple viewpoints or areas. Whereas, using vague language can hinder effective communication and decision-making, as the lack of detail may lead to different interpretations.
Educational materials that are broad in scope are typically designed to give an overview of a subject. In contrast, materials that are vague may fail to provide enough information for meaningful learning or retention.
In legal and technical contexts, a broad interpretation or definition can apply to numerous situations, increasing flexibility. Whereas, a vague law or instruction can lead to disputes and challenges in enforcement due to unclear standards.
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Comparison Chart
Scope
Wide, encompassing
Indeterminate, unclear
Detail
Lacks detail, covers general concepts
Lacks specificity, hard to understand
Communication
Facilitates inclusive discussions
Hinders clear understanding
Application
Useful in overview or general sense
Problematic in practical application
Interpretation
Allows for flexibility
Leads to ambiguity and multiple meanings
Compare with Definitions
Broad
Encompassing a wide range or variety.
The museum offers a broad spectrum of artwork from various cultures.
Vague
Ambiguous; open to more than one interpretation.
The novel's ending is deliberately vague.
Broad
Applying to many cases; not narrow.
They had broad criteria for selecting participants.
Vague
Not clearly expressed or easily understood.
He gave only a vague answer to the question.
Broad
Not limited to specifics; general.
She gave a broad overview of the company's history.
Vague
Lacking clear boundaries or precise definitions.
The terms of the agreement were too vague.
Broad
Liberal or tolerant.
He is known for his broad views on social reform.
Vague
Indefinite or indistinct in nature.
She had a vague feeling of unease about the meeting.
Broad
Wide in extent from side to side
A broad river.
Broad shoulders.
Vague
Not clear in meaning or intention.
His directions were frustratingly vague.
Broad
Large in expanse; spacious
A broad lawn.
Vague
Of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning
Many patients suffer vague symptoms
Broad
Having a certain width from side to side
A sidewalk three feet broad.
Vague
Not clear in meaning or expression; inexplicit.
Broad
Full; open
Broad daylight.
Vague
Not thinking or expressing oneself clearly
"Most of us are quite vague about the theoretical underpinnings of the medical theories that guide our doctors" (Kwame Anthony Appiah).
Broad
Covering a wide scope; general
A broad rule.
Vague
Lacking definite shape, form, or character; indistinct
Saw a vague outline of a building through the fog.
Broad
Liberal; tolerant
Had broad views regarding social services.
Vague
Indistinctly felt, perceived, understood, or recalled; hazy
A vague uneasiness.
Broad
Relating to or covering the main facts or the essential points
A plan presented in broad outline.
Vague
Not clearly expressed; stated in indefinite terms.
Broad
Plain and clear; obvious
Gave us a broad hint to leave.
Vague
Not having a precise meaning.
A vague term of abuse
Broad
Vulgar; ribald
A broad joke.
Vague
Not clearly defined, grasped, or understood; indistinct; slight.
Only a vague notion of what’s needed
A vague hint of a thickening waistline
I haven’t the vaguest idea.
Broad
Strikingly regional or dialectal
A broad Southern accent.
Vague
Not clearly felt or sensed; somewhat subconscious.
A vague longing
Broad
(Linguistics) Pronounced with the tongue placed low and flat and with the oral cavity wide open, like the a in father.
Vague
Not thinking or expressing one’s thoughts clearly or precisely.
Broad
A wide flat part, as of one's hand.
Vague
Lacking expression; vacant.
Broad
Offensive Slang A woman or girl.
Vague
Not sharply outlined; hazy.
Broad
Fully; completely.
Vague
Wandering; vagrant; vagabond.
Broad
Wide in extent or scope.
Three feet broad
The broad expanse of ocean
Vague
(obsolete) A wandering; a vagary.
Broad
Extended, in the sense of diffused; open; clear; full.
Vague
An indefinite expanse.
Broad
Having a large measure of any thing or quality; unlimited; unrestrained.
Vague
(archaic) to wander; to roam; to stray.
Broad
Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
Vague
To become vague or act in a vague manner.
Broad
Plain; evident.
A broad hint
Vague
To make vague negative comments publicly; to make highly veiled complaints or insults.
Broad
General rather than specific.
To be in broad agreement
Vague
Wandering; vagrant; vagabond.
She danced along with vague, regardless eyes.
Broad
(writing) Unsubtle; obvious.
Vague
Unsettled; unfixed; undetermined; indefinite; ambiguous; as, a vague idea; a vague proposition.
This faith is neither a mere fantasy of future glory, nor a vague ebullition of feeling.
The poet turned away, and gave himself up to a sort of vague revery, which he called thought.
Broad
Free; unrestrained; unconfined.
Vague
Proceeding from no known authority; unauthenticated; uncertain; flying; as, a vague report.
Some legend strange and vague.
Broad
(dated) Gross; coarse; indelicate.
A broad compliment; a broad joke; broad humour
Vague
An indefinite expanse.
The gray vague of unsympathizing sea.
Broad
(of an accent) Strongly regional.
She still has a broad Scottish accent, despite moving to California 20 years ago.
Vague
A wandering; a vagary.
Broad
(Gaelic languages) Velarized, i.e. not palatalized.
Vague
To wander; to roam; to stray.
Broad
(UK) A shallow lake, one of a number of bodies of water in eastern Norfolk and Suffolk.
Vague
Not clearly understood or expressed;
An obscure turn of phrase
An impulse to go off and fight certain obscure battles of his own spirit
Their descriptions of human behavior become vague, dull, and unclear
Vague...forms of speech...have so long passed for mysteries of science
Broad
A lathe tool for turning down the insides and bottoms of cylinders.
Vague
Not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished;
An undefined term
Undefined authority
Some undefined sense of excitement
Vague feelings of sadness
A vague uneasiness
Broad
A British gold coin worth 20 shillings, issued by the Commonwealth of England in 1656.
Vague
Lacking clarity or distinctness;
A dim figure in the distance
Only a faint recollection
Shadowy figures in the gloom
Saw a vague outline of a building through the fog
A few wispy memories of childhood
Broad
A kind of floodlight.
Broad
A playing card.
Broad
(dated) A prostitute, a woman of loose morals.
Broad
A woman or girl.
Broad
Wide; extend in breadth, or from side to side; - opposed to narrow; as, a broad street, a broad table; an inch broad.
Broad
Extending far and wide; extensive; vast; as, the broad expanse of ocean.
Broad
Extended, in the sense of diffused; open; clear; full.
Broad
Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing or quality; not limited; not restrained; - applied to any subject, and retaining the literal idea more or less clearly, the precise meaning depending largely on the substantive.
A broad mixture of falsehood.
Broad
Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
The words in the Constitution are broad enough to include the case.
In a broad, statesmanlike, and masterly way.
Broad
Plain; evident; as, a broad hint.
Broad
Free; unrestrained; unconfined.
As broad and general as the casing air.
Broad
Characterized by breadth. See Breadth.
Broad
Cross; coarse; indelicate; as, a broad compliment; a broad joke; broad humor.
Broad
Strongly marked; as, a broad Scotch accent.
It is as broad as long, whether they rise to others, or bring others down to them.
Broad
The broad part of anything; as, the broad of an oar.
Broad
The spread of a river into a sheet of water; a flooded fen.
Broad
A lathe tool for turning down the insides and bottoms of cylinders.
Broad
Slang term for a woman;
A broad is a woman who can throw a mean punch
Broad
Having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other;
Wide roads
A wide necktie
Wide margins
Three feet wide
A river two miles broad
Broad shoulders
A broad river
Broad
Broad in scope or content;
Across-the-board pay increases
An all-embracing definition
Blanket sanctions against human-rights violators
An invention with broad applications
A panoptic study of Soviet nationality
Granted him wide powers
Broad
Not detailed or specific;
A broad rule
The broad outlines of the plan
Felt an unspecific dread
Broad
Lacking subtlety; obvious;
Gave us a broad hint that it was time to leave
Broad
Being at a peak or culminating point;
Broad day
Full summer
High noon
Broad
Very large in expanse or scope;
A broad lawn
The wide plains
A spacious view
Spacious skies
Broad
(of speech) heavily and noticeably regional;
A broad southern accent
Broad
Showing or characterized by broad-mindedness;
A broad political stance
Generous and broad sympathies
A liberal newspaper
Tolerant of his opponent's opinions
Common Curiosities
How does a vague description affect understanding?
It leads to ambiguity, making it difficult to understand or interpret accurately.
How do broad and vague differ in their usefulness in communication?
Broad communication can include many topics or viewpoints, while vague communication may prevent clear understanding.
How can teachers avoid vagueness in their instructions?
By providing clear, specific, and detailed guidelines.
Is it better to be broad or vague when providing feedback?
Being broad is typically more helpful, as it can address multiple areas constructively, while being vague may not offer actionable advice.
What does it mean when a topic is described as broad?
It means the topic covers a wide scope and includes many elements or aspects.
Why is vagueness often problematic in legal documents?
Because it can lead to interpretation issues and enforcement difficulties.
What are the risks of using vague language in business settings?
It can lead to misunderstandings, errors, and inefficiencies.
Can a broad approach be beneficial in academic contexts?
Yes, it allows for a general understanding and inclusion of various subjects.
What techniques can help clarify a vague statement?
Asking for specific examples or definitions can help clarify vague statements.
Can a statement be both broad and vague?
Yes, a statement can be broad in scope yet vague in details, affecting clarity.
In what situations might a broad description be preferable to a detailed one?
When introducing broad concepts or when details are too numerous to be practical.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
