Equivocal
adjective /ɪˈkwɪv.ə.kəl/ — Ambiguous; open to more than one interpretation.
Definition
Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided. Often implies deliberate vagueness or a situation where the truth remains genuinely uncertain.
Beyond the definition
Equivocal is the word for the answer that technically responds but doesn't commit. The equivocal politician, the equivocal diagnosis, the equivocal smile. It lives in the space between saying something and meaning it.
Origin & history
From Late Latin aequivocus ('ambiguous'), from aequi- ('equal') + vox ('voice'). Literally: equal voices — two meanings given equal weight.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The politician gave an equivocal answer that satisfied no one in the room.
The doctor's initial findings were equivocal, requiring a second round of tests.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Equivocal” when the meaning fits your context: Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided. Often implies deliberate vagueness or a situation where the truth remains genuinely uncertain.
Synonyms
ambiguous, vague, evasive, uncertain, noncommittal
Antonyms
unequivocal, clear, definitive, explicit
Related words
Equivocal vs ambiguous
Ambiguous means open to more than one interpretation, and the ambiguity may be unintentional — a genuinely unclear statement or situation. Equivocal implies that the vagueness is deliberate: the equivocal politician, the equivocal diagnosis. It carries a slight accusation of evasion. Not all ambiguous statements are equivocal; all equivocal statements are, at some level, intended to avoid commitment. Ambiguous is a property; equivocal is often a strategy.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Choosing between divergent paths forward
Two adults stand at a forest crossroads, pointing toward different paths that lead into contrasting zones of bright light and deep shadow.
The ambiguity of these two paths—one leading to light and the other to darkness—captures an equivocal situation. The choice is not clear or decided, leaving the truth of the best path genuinely uncertain and open to interpretation.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Equivocal" mean?
Equivocal is adjective meaning: Ambiguous; open to more than one interpretation.. Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided. Often implies deliberate vagueness or a situation where the truth remains genuinely uncertain.
Where does the word "Equivocal" come from?
From Late Latin aequivocus ('ambiguous'), from aequi- ('equal') + vox ('voice'). Literally: equal voices — two meanings given equal weight.