Vague means hazy, uncertain, or imprecise. The term vague is used in reference to language - especially sentences and paragraphs - that are not clearly expressed. A criminal statute is void for vagueness if it is so vague that it fails to give a person fair notice of what conduct is prohibited or required. A statute is also void for vagueness if a legislature's delegation of authority to judges and/or administrators is so extensive that it would lead to arbitrary prosecutions.
See also: vagueness doctrine, criminal procedure, civil procedure, and due process.
See, e.g. Skilling v. United States, 130 S.Ct. 2896 (2010); Winters v. New York, 333 U.S. 507 (1948)
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]