equivocate

Equivocate is a verb meaning to use language that has more than one interpretation in order to avoid giving a direct answer or to conceal the truth. An equivocal statement may be technically true in one sense while avoiding commitment in another. The noun form is equivocation, and the adjective is equivocal.

Origin and etymology: the term comes from Old French équivoque, from Latin aequivocus meaning “having two equal voices” (from aequus, equal, and vox, voice). It entered English in the 17th century. The word has carried a sense of deliberate ambiguity rather than mere misunderstanding.

Usage and implications: equivocation is a common rhetorical device in everyday speech, used to deflect questions, buy time, or avoid a firm stance. It can be legitimate when precision is not possible or when premature commitments are undesirable, but it is often criticized as evasive or deceptive. In logic and critical thinking, the equivocation fallacy occurs when a key term is used with different meanings within an argument, producing a misleading conclusion. In politics, media, and diplomacy, sustained equivocation can erode trust and hinder clear decision-making.

Related terms and concepts: equivocal, equivocation as a rhetorical device, hedging, prevarication, double talk, and doublespeak. See also discussions of ambiguous language, argumentative fallacies, and ethical communication.