equivocation
UK: ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃən | US: ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃən
n. the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or avoid commitment
n. a statement that is deliberately vague or misleading
equivocation = equi<equal> + voc<voice> + ation<noun suffix>
- equi (from Latin aequus, meaning "equal")
- voc (from Latin vox, meaning "voice" or "speech")
- ation (a noun-forming suffix indicating an action or result)
Etymology Origin:
The word equivocation traces back to the Latin aequivocatio, combining aequus (equal) and vocare (to call). It originally referred to the act of using words with double meanings—literally "equal voices." Over time, it evolved to describe deliberate ambiguity in speech, often to deceive or evade. The root voc appears in many English words (e.g., vocal, advocate), while equi signifies balance or sameness (e.g., equilibrium). The term gained prominence in medieval logic and later in critiques of deceptive rhetoric.
The politician's equivocation left the audience unsure of his stance.
Legal contracts avoid equivocation to prevent misinterpretation.
Her equivocation about the project's timeline frustrated the team.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth famously grapples with the "equivocation of the fiend."
Detectives saw through the suspect’s equivocation during questioning.