equivoque: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, literary, academic
Quick answer
What does “equivoque” mean?
A word, phrase, or statement which has more than one meaning and is used ambiguously, often with deliberate intent to mislead or to create humour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A word, phrase, or statement which has more than one meaning and is used ambiguously, often with deliberate intent to mislead or to create humour.
A pun or play on words; an expression capable of two interpretations, one of which is often risqué or indelicate. It can also refer to a deliberately ambiguous or equivocal statement in rhetoric or argument.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'equivoque' is standard in both. The more common term in general English is 'pun' or 'double entendre'. In formal rhetorical analysis, 'equivoque' is used internationally.
Connotations
In British usage, it may retain a slightly more archaic, literary flavour. In American academic writing, it is a precise technical term.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech in both varieties; confined to scholarly or highly literate contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “equivoque” in a Sentence
[Subject] used/made an equivoque on [word/phrase].The argument hinges on a deliberate equivoque.[Text] is full of witty equivoques.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “equivoque” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He did not equivocate; he presented a blatant equivoque.
American English
- The lawyer was accused of equivoquing in his summation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Highly unlikely, except possibly in legal contexts regarding ambiguous contract wording: 'The clause was dismissed as a mere equivoque.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism, rhetoric, philosophy, and linguistics to analyse ambiguous textual constructions.
Everyday
Virtually never used. The average speaker would say 'pun' or 'double meaning'.
Technical
A precise term in formal logic and rhetoric for a fallacy of ambiguity.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “equivoque”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “equivoque”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “equivoque”
- Misspelling as 'equivoke'.
- Using it to mean a simple mistake or mispronunciation.
- Confusing it with 'equivocate' (a verb meaning to speak ambiguously).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An 'equivoque' is a specific type of pun characterised by ambiguity, often with one meaning being risqué or deceptive. 'Pun' is the broader, everyday term for any play on words.
No, it is a very rare, formal, and literary term. In most contexts, 'pun', 'double meaning', or 'double entendre' would be used instead.
Primarily a noun. While theoretically a verb 'to equivoque' exists, it is archaic and the verb 'to equivocate' is standard for the action of using ambiguous language.
Yes, in literary contexts it can denote clever, witty wordplay. However, in logical or legal contexts, it often carries a negative connotation of deliberate obfuscation or fallacy.
A word, phrase, or statement which has more than one meaning and is used ambiguously, often with deliberate intent to mislead or to create humour.
Equivoque is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Equivoque: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɛkwɪvəʊk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɛkwɪvoʊk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The argument turned on an equivoque.”
- “To hinge on a verbal equivoque.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'EQUIVOQUE' as 'EQUIVOCal' (ambiguous) speech that provokes a 'QU'estion about its true meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A MASK (it hides true meaning). WORDS ARE TRAPS (they can catch the listener in misunderstanding).
Practice
Quiz
In rhetorical analysis, an 'equivoque' is most specifically a: