Prevarication Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐คฅ
prevarication
[prษชหvarษชหkeษชสษn ]
Definitions
in communication
The act of avoiding a direct answer or statement, often by being intentionally vague or ambiguous. Prevarication can be used to deceive or mislead others.
Synonyms
dodging, equivocation, evasion.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| prevarication |
Used to describe the act of lying or being intentionally ambiguous to avoid telling the truth. It often has a negative connotation.
|
| evasion |
Describes the act of evading, often used in contexts where someone is avoiding something they should confront. It can imply avoidance of responsibilities or hard truths.
|
| equivocation |
Involves using ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to mislead. Often implies a deliberate attempt to be vague.
|
| dodging |
Refers to the act of avoiding a situation or question, often in a more physical or direct manner. It can have a negative tone depending on the context.
|
Examples of usage
- She accused him of prevarication when he refused to give a clear answer.
- His prevarication only served to further confuse the situation.
in law
The act of lying or deviating from the truth under oath. Prevarication in court can result in serious legal consequences.
Synonyms
deception, falsehood, perjury.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| prevarication |
Used when someone avoids telling the truth by not directly answering a question or being deliberately ambiguous.
|
| perjury |
Specifically used in a legal context when someone lies under oath in a court of law.
|
| falsehood |
Describes a statement that is not true, often used in formal or serious contexts.
|
| deception |
Applied when someone intentionally lies or tricks others to gain an advantage or hide the truth.
|
Examples of usage
- The witness's prevarication was exposed during cross-examination.
- Perjury is a form of prevarication that is punishable by law.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Law
- In legal contexts, prevarication can harm one's credibility in court, as truthfulness is paramount.
- Judges often look unfavorably on witnesses who seem to be prevaricating, as it can obstruct justice.
Psychology
- Studies suggest that people may prevaricate to protect themselves from negative consequences or to maintain social harmony.
- The act of prevarication can lead to increased anxiety for the person lying, especially if they fear being caught.
Literature
- Authors often use characters who prevaricate to add conflict or tension in stories, showcasing human complexity.
- Famous novels like 'The Great Gatsby' feature prevarication as a theme, exploring truth and deception in relationships.
Pop Culture
- Television shows like 'House of Cards' frequently depict characters engaging in prevarication to achieve their goals, highlighting moral ambiguity.
- In comedy, prevarication is sometimes used for humor, as characters weave elaborate lies that lead to funny consequences.
Origin of 'prevarication'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the Latin 'praevaricatio,' which means 'to walk crookedly,' indicating a sense of deceit.
- Originally, it referred to a legal term related to the act of evading the truth in a trial.
The word 'prevarication' originated from the Latin word 'praevaricatio', which means 'a straddling, shuffling'. It first appeared in English in the 16th century. Prevarication is often associated with deception and dishonesty, and has been used in various contexts such as politics, law, and everyday communication.
Word Frequency Rank
This word's position of #33,023 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.
- ...
- 33020 noisier
- 33021 tempi
- 33022 greying
- 33023 prevarication
- 33024 lauding
- 33025 straightforwardness
- 33026 inessential
- ...