What does equivocatory mean?
Equivocatory is a formal adjective describing speech or writing that deliberately avoids being clear or definite, typically so that the speaker can escape commitment, accountability, or contradiction. An equivocatory reply gives the appearance of answering while committing to nothing; an equivocatory official document may be worded so that it can be read in several convenient ways. The word derives from the same Latin source as 'equivocal' and 'equivocation' — literally 'equal-voiced', suggesting words that speak with two voices at once. It is most often applied to politicians, diplomats, lawyers, and spokespeople whose careful vagueness is seen as strategic rather than accidental. Because it implies intentional evasion, calling a statement equivocatory is usually a mild reproach, signalling that the speaker could have been clearer but chose not to be.
adjectiveCharacterized by equivocation; deliberately vague or ambiguous, especially in order to avoid committing to a clear statement or position.
- Tending to use ambiguous or evasive language so as to avoid commitment or conceal the truth; characterized by equivocation.
- (Of a statement or expression) capable of more than one interpretation; ambiguous in meaning.
"The minister's equivocatory answer left reporters unsure whether the policy would actually change."
"Pressed for a straight yes or no, the witness gave only an equivocatory shrug and a muddled explanation."
"The contract was criticised for its equivocatory wording, which allowed either party to interpret key clauses differently."
When a politician answers a question without really answering it, 'equivocatory' names that art perfectly — and it comes from the same Latin root as the word 'equal', literally 'of equal voice' for two different meanings.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How equivocatory is actually used
A formal, somewhat rare adjective used mainly in political commentary, legal writing, and criticism of public statements. It carries a negative connotation, implying deliberate evasion rather than mere vagueness.
Easily confused with equivocatory
Equivocal describes something that is itself open to multiple interpretations or of uncertain significance, while equivocatory describes a person's speech or manner that deliberately avoids clarity.