What does palter mean?
Palter means to equivocate or act unfairly, especially when bargaining, negotiating, or handling an agreement. It suggests someone is avoiding a commitment, obscuring the truth, or using unfair methods to secure an advantage. The word is more strongly accusatory than compromise or negotiate: to palter implies bad faith or deliberate evasion rather than ordinary disagreement or revision. Palter can also be used more broadly when someone varies a story or twists facts to evade responsibility. Although still understood in British and American English, it is much less common in contemporary speech and is now encountered chiefly in formal, literary, or historical writing. Its rarity gives it a distinctly condemnatory tone, making it especially effective when describing conduct that falls short of straightforward, honest negotiation. The word should not be confused with alter, which means to change or modify something.
verbTo equivocate or act unfairly, especially in negotiations or dealings involving agreements, obligations, or the truth.
- To equivocate, evade an obligation, or act unfairly, especially in negotiations or dealings involving agreements, obligations, or the truth.
"Neither side should palter when negotiating a fair settlement."
"The minister accused the other party of paltering over the terms of the agreement."
"His account paltered with the facts whenever the subject of his finances arose."
Palter looks like alter with the first letter shifted, but where alter changes things, palter can mean manipulating the truth or terms to gain an unfair advantage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does palter come from?
The verb palter is attested from the 16th century. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, although proposals connecting it with a Middle Dutch word associated with haggling or bargaining have been made.
Related word forms
How palter is actually used
This verb is now uncommon and occurs chiefly in formal, literary, or historical writing. It conveys deliberate evasion or unfairness and is more accusatory than the neutral language of compromise or negotiation.
Easily confused with palter
Alter means to change or modify something, whereas palter means to equivocate or behave unfairly, particularly in negotiations.