gray area

noun

: an area or situation in which it is difficult to judge what is right and what is wrong
There are no gray areas in the rules.
a legal gray area

Examples of gray area in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The divide between the sexes seems to be widening, with many individuals reluctant to find themselves in the gray area in between, where ambiguity could lead to criticism or social ostracism. Jerry Colonna, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 The aerodynamic design feature became a key detail of the 2024 season, so much so that Red Bull and Ferrari raised concerns about McLaren’s and Mercedes’ wings, feeling their rivals were gaining from a gray area in the rules. Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 30 May 2025 But there is, of course, also a gray area where these individuals, in the hectic pace of a session, can wield undue influence that doesn’t always show up in disclosure forms. Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 2 July 2025 The Jackal is our protagonist and our audience want to emulate his gray area, so therefore, our antagonist is Bianca. Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for gray area

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gray area.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gray%20area. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!