prevarication
C2Formal
Definition
Meaning
The act of deliberately avoiding the truth by being evasive or ambiguous; equivocation.
Avoidance of a direct or clear statement, often in order to mislead or delay while appearing to answer; habitual deviation from the truth.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically refers to speech or statements. Often implies a morally blameworthy evasion of the truth, rather than a simple, direct lie. Historically rooted in the idea of straying from the straightforward path.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used with identical meaning and frequency in both varieties. The associated verb 'prevaricate' is slightly more common in British political/journalistic discourse.
Connotations
Strongly negative in both, implying deceitful evasion. May carry a slightly more formal, legal, or political tone in American English.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; primarily found in formal writing, political commentary, legal contexts, and academic criticism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] engaged in prevarication.The [noun] was a masterpiece of prevarication.to be accused of prevaricationa tactic of prevaricationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A master of prevarication.”
- “The long and winding road of prevarication.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in contexts of corporate accountability, e.g., 'Shareholders grew impatient with the board's prevarication over the merger.'
Academic
Found in political science, ethics, and literary analysis discussing rhetoric, deception, or character flaws.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used to criticise a politician, official, or partner who won't give a straight answer.
Technical
In legal contexts, can refer to obstructive or evasive testimony, though 'perjury' is a stronger, more specific term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The minister continued to prevaricate when pressed about the funding cuts.
American English
- The CEO prevaricated during the interview, never giving a direct yes or no.
adverb
British English
- He answered prevaricatingly, talking in circles for several minutes.
American English
- The spokesperson responded prevaricatingly to the tough question.
adjective
British English
- His prevaricatory answers frustrated the committee members.
American English
- She dismissed the statement as a prevaricatory tactic.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The public is tired of political prevarication on important issues.
- His reply was full of prevarication and didn't address the question.
- The inquiry exposed a culture of prevarication and obfuscation within the department.
- Her skilled prevarication allowed her to avoid committing to a position, but it eroded trust.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'PRE-VARying' story: before (PRE) it's straight, it VARies and wanders from the truth.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUTH IS A STRAIGHT PATH; prevarication is deviation/straying from that path.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'проволочка' (delay). While prevarication causes delay, its core is evasion, not just slowness. Closer to 'уклончивость', 'двусмысленность', or 'лживые увертки'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a synonym for 'procrastination' (delay in action). Prevarication is specifically delay or evasion *in speech*.
- Misspelling as 'pervarication' or 'preverication'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following situations best exemplifies 'prevarication'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Lying is stating something false. Prevarication is evading the truth, often by being ambiguous, misleading, or only telling part of the truth, without necessarily making a false statement.
Yes, it implies a deliberate choice to be evasive or ambiguous. Accidental vagueness or confusion would not typically be called prevarication.
Primarily no. Its core meaning relates to speech and statements. While evasive actions may accompany it, the term itself focuses on the verbal evasion.
It comes from Latin 'praevaricari', meaning 'to walk crookedly, to deviate' (from 'prae-' (before) + 'varicare' (to straddle)). It entered English via legal Latin, where it meant 'to collude with an opponent' or 'to betray a cause'.
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