Standard Lemma guide

indirectness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The condition of being indirect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

having the characteristic of lacking a true course toward a goal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: directness

Broader terms: characteristic

Narrower terms: allusiveness, mediacy, mediateness, deviousness, obliqueness, discursiveness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English indirect Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English indirectness From indirect + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: epäsuoruus — the condition of being indirect
  • Japanese: 間接 (kansetsu) — the condition of being indirect
  • Manx: neuyeerid — the condition of being indirect
  • Spanish: indirectura — the condition of being indirect
  • Spanish: indirectez — the condition of being indirect