Dubious Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of DUBIOUS

[more dubious; most dubious]

1

not used before a noun

:

unsure or uncertain

:

feeling doubt about something

— usually + about

• I was dubious [=_doubtful_] about our chances for success.

2

:

causing doubt, uncertainty, or suspicion

:

likely to be bad or wrong

• Her conclusions are pretty dubious, if you ask me. [=her conclusions are probably wrong]
• He made the highly dubious claim that Elvis is still alive and living in Hawaii.
• She was a dubious choice for the job. [=she was not a good choice for the job]
• They got their money through dubious means/methods. [=methods that were probably dishonest or illegal]
• a man of dubious character

3

— used ironically in phrases like dubious honor and dubious distinction to describe something bad or undesirable as if it were an honor or achievement

• He is the lawyer with the dubious honor of having lost the most cases in the firm.

• We had the dubious distinction of losing 12 games in a row.

• He looked at me dubiously when I explained why I was late.

— dubiousness

noun

[noncount]