Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To use equivocal language to deceive someone or avoid committing oneself to a position. synonym: lie.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To use words of a doubtful signification; express one's opinions in terms which admit of different interpretations; specifically, to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; prevaricate.
  • To render equivocal; render false or lying.
  • Having a double signification.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead.
  • transitive verb To render equivocal or ambiguous.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as, to equivocate is the work of duplicity.
  • verb To render equivocal or ambiguous.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English equivocaten, from Medieval Latin aequivocāre, aequivocāt-, from Late Latin aequivocus, equivocal; see equivocal.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Medieval Latin aequivocātus, perfect passive participle of aequivocō ("I am called by the same name"), from Late Latin aequivocus ("ambiguous, equivocal"): confer French équivoquer. See equivocal.

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Examples

  • The safe bet is that Democrats will again equivocate to avoid what would, by necessity, be the impeachment of the Vice President.

    Waldo Jaquith - Scooter Libby off the hook. 2007

  • There is also another meaning of the word equivocate in popular usage.

    Reasons to Believe - 2009

  • If I had stuck with the word all and given Vorster a little room to equivocate, I might have left the diplomats a little happier and given Vorster less chance to demagogue the event for home consumption.

    The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010

  • If I had stuck with the word all and given Vorster a little room to equivocate, I might have left the diplomats a little happier and given Vorster less chance to demagogue the event for home consumption.

    The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010

  • If I had stuck with the word all and given Vorster a little room to equivocate, I might have left the diplomats a little happier and given Vorster less chance to demagogue the event for home consumption.

    The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010

  • "Bathers have been suggested to equivocate a H2O from Wednesday in to a weekend."

    Archive 2009-11-01 admin 2009

  • Some of his unfamiliar travels competence have been entirely motivated by a search for amicable progress, nonetheless his multiform hospitalizations abroad do raise a possibility which he hoped to equivocate broadside about his illness.

    Philadelphia Reflections: Shakspere Society of Philadelphia admin 2009

  • In on foot after a suggestion you contingency equivocate all haste.

    Archive 2009-11-01 admin 2009

  • First, you equivocate over warming in the past and contemporary warming; the second is the “complex question” form in which you lowball your estimates at the end.

    Think Progress » Rep. Tom Perriello Tells ‘Spineless’ Senate To Get ‘Its Head Out Of Its Rear End’ And Confront Climate Crisis 2010

  • Likewise equivocate AbsoluteWriters Water Cooler for info as good as inspiration.

    TV Anime Guide for Nov 09 Updated 1 Nov 09 admin 2009

Comments

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  • equivocate: to mislead.

    equivocarse: to be mistaken.

    January 10, 2008

  • I am in earnest

    I will not equivocate

    I will not excuse

    I will not retreat a single inch;

    and I will be heard.

    William Lloyd Garrison

    March 12, 2008