amorphous

/əˈmɔrfəs/

Other forms: amorphously

Amorphous means without a clearly defined form, like the moon's amorphous reflection in a lake. Figuratively, something amorphous lacks focus, be it a work of art, a political movement, or even someone's life plans.

The Greek roots of this word are clear: morphē means "form," and a- means "lacking or without." When creative works or ideas are described as amorphous, it means they suffer from a lack of organization. An amorphous object lacks a well-defined outline or structure, like amorphous jellyfish drifting on the surface of the ocean. And scientifically, this adjective simply describes something without a crystalline form, like an amorphous metal or amorphous ice.

Definitions of amorphous

1. adjective

   having no definite form or distinct shape
   “amorphous clouds of insects”

   synonyms: formless, shapeless

   unformed

   not having form or shape
2. adjective

   without real or apparent crystalline form
   “an amorphous mineral”

   “amorphous structure”

   synonyms: uncrystallised, uncrystallized

   noncrystalline

   not crystalline
3. adjective

   lacking the system or structure characteristic of living bodies
   synonyms: unstructured

   inorganic

   lacking the properties characteristic of living organisms