tergiversate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/RareFormal, Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “tergiversate” mean?
To deliberately avoid making a clear statement or commitment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To deliberately avoid making a clear statement or commitment; to equivocate or be evasive.
To change one's loyalties or opinions repeatedly and opportunistically; to apostatize or desert a cause.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or political commentary.
Connotations
In both varieties, implies intellectual dishonesty and moral weakness.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency word. Most native speakers would not know it or use it spontaneously.
Grammar
How to Use “tergiversate” in a Sentence
tergiversate (on something)tergiversate between positionsbe accused of tergiversatingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tergiversate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The minister was criticised for tergiversating on the key policy question.
- Throughout the crisis, he tergiversated, never giving a straight answer.
American English
- The senator tergiversated for weeks before finally stating a position.
- He was accused of tergiversating on his campaign promises.
adverb
British English
- He spoke tergiversatingly, never committing to a single view.
- The report was written tergiversatingly to avoid blame.
American English
- She answered tergiversatingly, weaving between several possibilities.
- The policy was presented tergiversatingly to please all factions.
adjective
British English
- His tergiversating testimony undermined the inquiry.
- A tergiversating ally is worse than an honest opponent.
American English
- The candidate's tergiversating stance confused voters.
- Her tergiversating answers frustrated the interview panel.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in political science, history, or ethics to describe betrayal of ideology.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tergiversate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tergiversate”
- Using it to mean simply 'hesitate' or 'delay'.
- Misspelling as 'tergivate' or 'tergiverse'.
- Using it in informal contexts where it sounds pompous.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare, formal word. Most communication would use 'equivocate', 'hedge', 'waver', or 'backtrack'.
Both mean to avoid a direct answer. 'Tergiversate' is rarer and stronger, often implying a complete betrayal or reversal of a previous position, not just evasion.
Almost never. It is a pejorative term implying cowardice, dishonesty, or opportunism.
Tergiversation (e.g., 'an act of political tergiversation').
To deliberately avoid making a clear statement or commitment.
Tergiversate is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Tergiversate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɜːdʒɪvəseɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɜːrdʒɪvərseɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. The noun 'tergiversation' is used in formal contexts.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TURN' (tergi-) and 'VERSE' (-versate) – to turn your verse/words, i.e., to change what you say.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTELLECTUAL HONESTY IS STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS / DISHONESTY IS MEANDERING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'tergiversate' most appropriately used?