equivocation
pronunciation
How to pronounce equivocation in British English:
UK [ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃn]
How to pronounce equivocation in American English:
US [ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeʃən]
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- Noun:
- a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth
- intentionally vague or ambiguous
- falsification by means of vague or ambiguous language
Word Origin
- equivocation (n.)
- late 14c., "fallacy of using a word in different senses at different stages of the reasoning" (a loan-translation of Greek homonymia, literally "having the same name"), from Old French equivocation, from Late Latin aequivocationem (nominative aequivocatio), noun of action from aequivocus "of identical sound, of equal voice, of equal significance, ambiguous, of like sound," past participle of aequivocare, from aequus "equal" (see equal (adj.)) + vocare "to call" (see voice (n.)).
Example
- 1. He answered openly and honestly without hesitation or equivocation .
- 2. Equivocation : misleading = bromide : hackneyed .
- 3. There 's nothing lucky about luck : fallacy of equivocation .
- 4. This equivocation has carried through to his trade policy appointments .
- 5. And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the united states of america does not torture .