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Equivocated: meaning, definitions and examples

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equivocated

 

[ ɪˈkwɪvəkeɪtɪd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

ambiguous statement

To equivocate means to use ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing to a position. It often involves speaking in a way that allows for multiple interpretations, leading to confusion about what is actually meant.

Synonyms

dodge, evade, prevaricate

Examples of usage

  • The politician equivocated when asked about his stance on the issue.
  • She equivocated her response to avoid offending anyone.
  • In his speech, he equivocated too much, leaving the audience unsure of his intentions.

Translations

Translations of the word "equivocated" in other languages:

🇵🇹 equivocado

🇮🇳 संदिग्ध

🇩🇪 ausweichen

🇮🇩 menghindar

🇺🇦 ухилятися

🇵🇱 wahać się

🇯🇵 あいまいにする

🇫🇷 équivoquer

🇪🇸 equivocar

🇹🇷 kaçamak yapmak

🇰🇷 모호하게 하다

🇸🇦 تجنب

🇨🇿 vyhýbat se

🇸🇰 vyhýbať sa

🇨🇳 模棱两可

🇸🇮 izogibati se

🇮🇸 forðast

🇰🇿 бұлыңғыр болу

🇬🇪 დაბნევა

🇦🇿 qeyri-müəyyən olmaq

🇲🇽 equivocar

Etymology

The term 'equivocate' comes from the Latin word 'aequivocare', which means 'to call by the same name' or 'to use a word with double meaning'. The Latin roots are 'aequi-' meaning 'equal' and 'vocare' meaning 'to call'. The word entered the English language in the early 17th century and was employed to describe a mode of speech that is deliberately ambiguous and therefore capable of being interpreted in more than one way. This sires from the context of legal and political discourse where clarity is often intentionally obscured to create room for flexibility in interpretation. Over time, 'equivocate' has maintained its connotation of dodging issues or providing misleading information through carefully crafted words.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,029, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.