equivocation
equivocation — noun
- equivocationsingular
- equivocationsplural
1. the act of using language that is deliberately unclear or open to more than one
the act of using language that is deliberately unclear or open to more than one interpretation, in order to avoid telling the truth or giving a direct answer to a question
Voters grew frustrated with the mayor's equivocation about the planned tax increase.
collocation: equivocation about [topic]
When Nia asked about the missing money, her boss's equivocation made her call the police.
The judge told both lawyers that equivocation would not fool the jury.
Roya saw through the salesman's equivocation and asked for a written guarantee instead.
Andrei was fired for his equivocation during the internal investigation into the data breach.
- ambiguity
Broader term — ambiguity can be unintentional; equivocation is always deliberate.
- evasiveness
Close in meaning, but evasiveness can involve silence or changing the subject, not just vague language.
- prevarication
Stronger and more formal — directly implies lying or false statements rather than cleverly vague wording.
- straightforwardness
Direct and honest communication without hidden intentions.
- clarity
Clear, unambiguous expression where the meaning is immediately obvious.
文法句型
equivocation about [topic]
equivocation on [topic]
possessive + equivocation
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in formal or legal contexts. The word carries a negative judgment — it implies the speaker knows the truth but is choosing to hide it through clever wording. The countable form (an equivocation) refers to a single instance of such language, while the uncountable form treats it as a general practice.