equivocation

Wikipedia

English

Alternative forms

• æquivocation (archaic)

Etymology

c. 1380, from Old French equivocation, from Medieval Latin aequivocātiōnem, accusative singular of aequivocātiō, from aequivocō, from Late Latin aequivocus (“ambiguous, equivocal”), from Latin aequus (“equal”) + vocō (“call”); a calque of Ancient Greek ὁμωνυμία (homōnumia).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

equivocation (plural equivocations)

1. (logic) A logical fallacy resulting from the use of multiple meanings of a single expression.
2. The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification, possibly intentionally and with the aim of misleading.

Related terms

• amphiboly, evasion, evasiveness, prevarication

Translations

Expression susceptible of a double signification, possibly misleading

Bulgarian: двусмислица (bg) f.

French: équivoque (fr) f., quiproquo (fr) m. Swedish: tvetydighet (sv)