indefinite (adj.) (indef)

A term used in GRAMMAR and SEMANTICS to refer to an entity (or class of entities) which is not capable of specific identification; it is contrasted with DEFINITE. Indefiniteness in English is usually conveyed through the use of the indefinite ARTICLE, a, or an indefinite PRONOUN (such as one, some, etc.). Non-definite is often used as a synonym, but some linguists make a difference between ‘non-definite’ and ‘indefinite’ reference. However, the distinction between definite and indefinite is not a straightforward one, given the many LINGUISTIC and EXTRALINGUISTIC CONTEXTUAL variables which operate.