equivocation

IPA/ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃn/
KK[ɪkwɪvəkˈeʃən]IPA/ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃn/

equivocation — noun

  • equivocationsingular
  • equivocationsplural

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

1.nounC2
Definition

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

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • careful equivocation
  • political equivocation
  • resort to equivocation
  • speak with equivocation
  • without equivocation
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • frankness

    stresses speaking openly instead of hiding the truth

  • clarity

    focuses on being easy to understand

Grammar Patterns

use equivocation to + verb

speak with equivocation

without equivocation

resort to equivocation

Usage Note

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

Common Mistakes

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

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun/1, equivocation usually suggests deliberate unclear wording, especially when someone wants to hide a fact without saying a direct lie. Evasion is broader: a person may change the subject, refuse to answer, or dodge the whole issue. Prevarication is more formal and often suggests a repeated habit of slippery, not fully honest speech. Vagueness is weaker and can be innocent, as when someone is tired, unsure, or careless rather than trying to mislead. If a minister gives a careful answer that sounds meaningful but reveals little, equivocation fits well. If a witness simply refuses the question, evasion is better. If a friend forgets details and speaks loosely, vagueness is the more natural choice.

equivocation ↗evasion ↗prevarication ↗vagueness ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • resort to equivocation
  • speak with equivocation
  • without equivocation

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Equivocation came into English from Latin roots behind equivocal. Those roots combined the ideas of equal and voice, and the older sense was speaking in a way that could point to more than one meaning. Over time, the word narrowed to deliberate verbal ambiguity used to avoid a plain answer.