Noncommittal: meaning, definitions and examples

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noncommittal

 

[ nɒn.kəˈmɪt.əl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

attitude or response

Noncommittal refers to a lack of commitment or indecisiveness in an attitude or response. It describes a stance where someone does not express a clear opinion or decision on a subject.

Synonyms

ambiguous, indecisive, nonliteral, tentative

Examples of usage

  • He gave a noncommittal answer during the interview.
  • She maintained a noncommittal attitude about her plans for the weekend.
  • The politician's noncommittal response left voters confused.
  • Despite the strong arguments, he remained noncommittal on the issue.

Translations

Translations of the word "noncommittal" in other languages:

🇵🇹 indeciso

🇮🇳 अनिश्चित

🇩🇪 unentschlossen

🇮🇩 tidak pasti

🇺🇦 непослідовний

🇵🇱 niezdecydowany

🇯🇵 あいまいな

🇫🇷 indécis

🇪🇸 indeciso

🇹🇷 kararsız

🇰🇷 불확실한

🇸🇦 غير ملتزم

🇨🇿 nejasný

🇸🇰 nejasný

🇨🇳 不确定的

🇸🇮 neodločen

🇮🇸 óákveðinn

🇰🇿 белгісіз

🇬🇪 არასახასიათო

🇦🇿 qətiyyətli olmayan

🇲🇽 indeciso

Word origin

The term 'noncommittal' is derived from the combination of the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' with the word 'committal', which originates from the verb 'commit'. The verb 'commit' comes from the Latin 'committere', meaning 'to bring together, connect, entrust', and has roots in 'com-' (together) and 'mittere' (to send). The usage of 'noncommittal' can be traced back to the early 20th century, reflecting social and behavioral attitudes of the time, particularly in decision-making and personal interactions. Initially, it conveyed a sense of hesitance or reluctance to make a firm decision or declaration, especially in formal settings. Over time, it has evolved to encompass a wider range of contexts in both personal and professional communication.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,932, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.