equivocate

American  

[ih-kwiv-uh-keyt] / ɪˈkwɪv əˌkeɪt /

verb (used without object)

• equivocates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• equivocated,
  past participle,  past
• equivocating
  present participle

1. to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge.

   When asked directly for his position on disarmament, the candidate only equivocated.

   Synonyms:

   dodge, stall, evade

---

equivocate British  

/ ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to use vague or ambiguous language, esp in order to avoid speaking directly or honestly; hedge

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• equivocator
  noun
• outequivocate
  verb (used with object)
• equivocatory
  adjective
• nonequivocating
  adjective
• unequivocating
  adjective
• equivocatingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• equivocating
  present
• equivocated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• equivocate
  simple
• equivocates
  simple
• have equivocated
  perfect
• has equivocated
  perfect
• am equivocating
  progressive
• are equivocating
  progressive
• is equivocating
  progressive
• have been equivocating
  perfect progressive
• has been equivocating
  perfect progressive

Past

• equivocated
  simple
• had equivocated
  perfect
• was equivocating
  progressive
• were equivocating
  progressive
• had been equivocating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will equivocate
  simple
• will have equivocated
  perfect
• will be equivocating
  progressive
• will have been equivocating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of equivocate

1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin aequivocātus, past participle of aequivocāre; see equivocal, -ate ¹

Explanation

When you are unwilling to make a decision and almost intentionally go back and forth between two choices, you are equivocating. When politicians equivocate, they are often afraid of upsetting, and thus alienating, voters with their decisions. A key part of equivocate is the root vocate, which comes from the Latin vocare or "voice." When you give your voice to two opposing views in order to mislead or keep your options open, you're equivocating. Think of the expression, to talk out of both sides of your mouth. If you want to go to a party and your parents keep saying "maybe, it depends," tell them to stop equivocating and give you a straight answer.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

equivocate equivocates equivocated equivocating

Each time, the Fed chose the same posture: assess; equivocate, delay.

From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026

Asked by a reporter last week whether he considered the Houthis a terrorist group, Mr. Biden did not equivocate.

From New York Times ● Jan. 16, 2024

"If he moves toward FX unification that is also a positive. He cannot equivocate."

From Reuters ● Nov. 20, 2023

The medical community has largely done the same thing: appease and equivocate.

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2023

She refused to equivocate on the issue of school desegregation, and in the Hispanic community she became an important, heroic voice.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

The Book of Esther was so welcome this year because it never equivocates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

Where he once placed himself firmly on Team Diana, here he equivocates, and only more so as his narrative marches toward the present.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 13, 2022

Instead the agency equivocates, emphasizing comfort and stating people should “wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.”

From Scientific American ● Jun. 15, 2022

But once again, he equivocates: He admits that he is not certain that a president can pardon himself.

From Slate ● May 21, 2018

“Horatio, you speak like a philosopher who equivocates truth and falsehood,” I said impatiently.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

But he has equivocated over how to get there, sometimes leaning into the threat of force, other times pushing the diplomacy.

From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2025

“I think we’ll try for $2 trillion. I think that’s, like, the best-case outcome,” he equivocated.

From Slate ● Jan. 17, 2025

David Malpass, the World Bank president who equivocated about the science of climate change, said he would step down early.

From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2023

At his hearing this year, Sirhan equivocated yet again.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 14, 2021

Let me ask you sir,' he added, bringing the ferule of his stick heavily upon the deck with the air of a man who must not be equivocated with, 'how do you like my Country?'

From Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens

Third, political leaders must stop equivocating when antisemitism appears in activist movements, universities or cultural institutions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025

Veterans of the space community reflected on the 2017 document, conspicuously silent on budgets and timelines, equivocating between excitement and concern.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2025

This was evident throughout Tuesday, with Blanche sparring incessantly with Cohen about his constant media appearances and his seemingly equivocating answers about those appearances.

From Slate ● May 16, 2024

About 40% of lawmakers — nearly equally divided between Democrats and Republicans — surveyed said they didn’t intend to assert a special privilege to withhold their emails and other records, without equivocating.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 1, 2024

The individual, with whom Wilder had been holding such equivocating parlance, seemed embarrassed by the sudden interruption, and a little at a loss to know how to conduct himself.

From The Red Rover by James Fenimore Cooper