prevarication

[pri-var-i-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of prevaricating, or lying.

   Seeing the expression on his mother's face, Nathan realized this was no time for prevarication.

2. a false or deliberate misstatement; lie.

   Her many prevarications had apparently paid off; she was free to go.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prevarication¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle French, from Latin praevāricātiō-, stem of praevāricātiō “collusion,” equivalent to praevāricāt(us), past participle of praevāricārī “to collude something, (of an advocate) collude with an opponent's advocate” + -iō -ion ( def. ); prevaricate ( def. )

Example Sentences

In a perfect world, it might be enough for political opponents to correct each other’s prevarications and exaggerations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The source who alerted The Times to VOA’s decision feared it suggested prevarication by the administration.

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A real professional prosecutor went to work on Trump; there were no political prevarications.

Read more on Salon

Green or not, Chris calmly walks Cybil into a corner with Mia's assistance, following a barrage of prevarication: "In the interest of transparency, was I hired for a permanent anchor position because I am black?"

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The children's commissioner also said there had been "a year and a half of prevarication and delay" over the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• dishonesty 
• equivocation 
• falsehood