equivocation

/ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˌkwi-və-ˈkā-shən/ (ame, mw)

equivocation — noun

  • equivocationsingular
  • equivocationsplural

1. language used on purpose to stay vague so listeners cannot tell exactly what is

1.名詞C2
釋義

language used on purpose to stay vague so listeners cannot tell exactly what is true, or a remark made in that style

例句

At the press meeting, the minister used equivocation to avoid a clear answer.

use equivocation to avoid a clear answer

Mina heard the equivocation and knew the manager was hiding bad news.

同義詞
  • evasion

    broader and can include dodging the question instead of answering vaguely

  • prevarication

    more formal and often suggests a habit of slippery dishonesty

  • vagueness

    can be accidental, while equivocation usually suggests intent

反義詞
  • frankness

    stresses speaking openly instead of hiding the truth

  • clarity

    focuses on being easy to understand

文法句型

use equivocation to + verb

speak with equivocation

without equivocation

resort to equivocation

用法筆記

Often follows with or without, or verbs such as resort to. It usually criticizes deliberate vagueness, not simple uncertainty or a moment of silence.

常見錯誤

❌Her short pause was pure equivocation.
✅Her carefully vague answer was pure equivocation.
💡equivocation is deliberately unclear wording, not just a brief pause.