prevarication

[ pri-var-i-key-shuh n ]

/ prɪˌvær ɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

the act of prevaricating, or lying: Seeing the expression on his mother's face, Nathan realized this was no time for prevarication.

a false or deliberate misstatement; lie: Her many prevarications had apparently paid off; she was free to go.

Nearby words

Mr. Converse had rather keen vision in matters of prevarication, even when the lying was done adroitly with figures.
The Landloper|Holman Day
Then, as Helene accompanied her into the ante-room, she wished to apologize for her prevarication.
A Love Episode|Emile Zola
Let us see whether we cannot defend him from this reproach of falsity and prevarication.
The Essays of Montaigne, Complete|Michel de Montaigne
"Auchinbreac was a soldier by trade and a good one too," answered M'Iver, at his usual trick of prevarication.
John Splendid|Neil Munro

I scorn a lie—my prayer is to leave every prevarication behind.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Vol. 13|Elbert Hubbard