From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishvaguevague /veɪɡ/ ●●○ S3 adjective 1 CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND#DETAIL#unclear because someone does not give enough detailed information or does not say exactly what they mean The governor gave only a vague outline of his tax plan.vague about Julia was vague about where she had been and what she had been doing.2 → have a vague idea/feeling/recollection etc (that)3 CFCLEAR/EASY TO SEEnot having a clear shape or form SYN indistinct The vague shape of a figure loomed through the mist. —vagueness noun [uncountable]COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: adjectivesa vague idea/notionThe students only had a vague idea of what they were supposed to do.a vague sense/feelingShe had a vague feeling that she had let something important slip away.a vague recollection/memoryI have only a vague recollection of what the house looked like.a vague impressionEverything happens so quickly, though, that all you are left with is a vague impression.a vague suspicionA vague suspicion began to tug at Benny's mind.a vague unease/dreadI felt a vague unease.
Examples from the Corpus
vague• A Wellesley College spokeswoman was spectacularly vague.• Its regulations must be reasonable and not too vague.• None of these writers looks at housework satisfaction; the notion of feminine domesticity is undefined and usually rather vague.• Dave's instructions were rather vague.• Officials were vague about the number of weapons that were uncovered.• He was rather vague about the reasons why he never finished school.• She floated near but outside her own body, feeling vague and intense at the same time.• They stood, she thought, the quintessential family, looking out from their sanctuary into the vague but hopeful unknown.• The doctor's vague explanations only increased Clara's fears.• I've only got a vague idea of what he wants for this project.• I only had a vague idea of where the place was.• vague promises of support• There have been vague rumours of a coup.• I had heard vague rumours that they were getting married.• There were vague shapes of hills in the distance.• a vague smilevague about• Johann was a little vague about where he was going.Origin vague (1500-1600) French Latin vagus “wandering, vague” 