weasel word

American  

noun

1. a word used to temper the forthrightness of a statement; a word that makes one's views equivocal, misleading, or confusing.

---

weasel word Idioms  

1. A word used to deprive a statement of its force or evade a direct commitment, as in Calling it “organized spontaneity” is using a weasel word; “organized” has sucked the meaning out of “spontaneity.” This idiom may allude to the weasel's habit of sucking the contents out of a bird's egg, so that only the shell remains. [Late 1800s]

---

Other Word Forms

• weasel-worded
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of weasel word

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

weasel word

Rodgers and others have deployed “influence” as a weasel word, meant to deflect attention from, shade or soften the unambiguous meanings of “rule,” “reign,” “govern” and “dominion.”

From Salon ● Nov. 12, 2023

Why use a wishy-washy weasel word such as “baseless”? Call his claims what they are: false.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 22, 2021

“Comity” has become a nostalgic weasel word, but you can’t help but be struck by it in the 1973 proceedings.

From New York Times ● Nov. 12, 2019

Before rushing for your credit card, please note the weasel word “curated”.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 31, 2019

"It is unlikely I could get through a confirmation hearing because I would not weasel word."

From Scientific American ● Feb. 14, 2018