noncommittal

[ non-kuh-mit-l ]

/ ˌnɒn kəˈmɪt l /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR noncommittal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not committing oneself, or not involving committal, to a particular view, course, or the like: The senator gave us a noncommittal answer.

Nearby words

noncombustible, noncomedogenic, noncommercial, noncommissioned, noncommissioned officer, noncommittal, noncommunicable, noncommunicant, noncommunicating hydrocephalus, noncommunist, noncompetitive

Origin of noncommittal

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; non- + committal

SYNONYMS FOR noncommittal

indefinite, vague, equivocal, evasive, guarded.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR noncommittal ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

non·com·mit·tal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for noncommittal

But the State Department is noncommittal, and sounds almost confused.
Up to Speed: 3 Things to Know About New York’s ‘Hell Week’|Christopher Dickey|September 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They offer a model of a relationship where two adults can have an honest, respectful, enjoyable but noncommittal relationship.
Sugar Daddy Dating Sites: Helen Croydon on Her Guilty Fantasy|Helen Croydon|May 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As for whether Hannah will hang up her handcuffs, Piper was noncommittal about the future of Secret Diary.
Diary of a Not-So-Secret Call Girl|Jace Lacob|January 24, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I used to wonder why she was always so noncommittal about things at Overton.
Grace Harlowe's Fourth Year at Overton College|Jessie Graham Flower

“Hm-m; no,” returned Mrs. Pendergast, with noncommittal briefness.
Across the Years|Eleanor H. Porter
A limousine, driven by a noncommittal chauffeur, picked me up off a street corner, whisked me to the airfield.
Of Stegner's Folly|Richard S. Shaver
The girl held a geranium leaf up to her nose and said nothing, but looked knowing and noncommittal.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
With a noncommittal smile, Lewis proceeded on his usual inspection tour.
The Adventures of Piang the Moro Jungle Boy|Florence Partello Stuart

British Dictionary definitions for noncommittal

noncommittal

/ (ˌnɒnkəˈmɪtəl) /

adjective

not involving or revealing commitment to any particular opinion or course of actiona noncommittal reply

rare having no outstanding quality, meaning, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012