What does equivocating mean?
Equivocating is the present participle of the verb 'equivocate', meaning to use deliberately ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself to a clear position. An equivocating speaker says things that can be read in more than one way — not out of confusion, but as a strategy to dodge blame, sidestep hard questions, or keep options open. The word carries a distinctly negative connotation: it suggests evasion and even dishonesty rather than simple imprecision, which is why it appears most often in political commentary, legal settings, and journalism ('the senator kept equivocating when asked directly'). It derives from the Latin 'aequivocus', literally 'of equal voice', describing words that sound the same whichever way they are taken. Related forms include 'equivocate', 'equivocation', and the noun 'equivocator'. Useful near-synonyms include 'prevaricating', 'hedging', and 'waffling', though each shades slightly differently in tone and formality.
verb (present participle and gerund of 'equivocate')To use ambiguous or unclear language in order to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself; to speak deliberately evasively.
- To use ambiguous language deliberately to mislead or avoid giving a direct answer.
- To make statements that are capable of two interpretations, especially to escape commitment.
"When pressed about the layoffs, the CEO kept equivocating instead of giving a straight answer."
"The witness kept equivocating under cross-examination, refusing to say yes or no."
"Rather than equivocating about the deadline, she gave us an exact date."
The Latin root of 'equivocating' literally means 'equal voices' — a speaker whose words sound the same either way you hear them, saying nothing while seeming to say everything.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of equivocating
Equivocating comes from the Late Latin 'aequivocare', built from Latin 'aequus' (equal) and 'vox' (voice), originally describing words that have equal claim to two meanings. The verb passed into English via the adjective 'equivocal' and noun 'equivocation', which entered English in the late 16th century, with the verb following shortly after. The same Latin root 'vox/vocis' gives English cognates such as 'vocal', 'vocation', and 'vociferous'. Over time the word narrowed from describing genuinely double-meaning language to implying intentional evasiveness.
Related word forms
How equivocating is actually used
Formal to neutral register; carries a strongly negative connotation of deceitfulness or evasiveness, stronger than mere vagueness. Most often used in political, legal, and journalistic contexts.
Easily confused with equivocating
'Ambiguating' means making something genuinely unclear, while equivocating implies a speaker is deliberately evasive to deceive or avoid commitment.