EQUIVOCAL

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does equivocal mean? 

• EQUIVOCAL (adjective)
  The adjective EQUIVOCAL has 3 senses:

1. open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead

2. open to question

3. uncertain as a sign or indication

  Familiarity information: EQUIVOCAL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EQUIVOCAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead

Synonyms:

ambiguous; equivocal

Context example:

an equivocal response to an embarrassing question

Similar:

double; forked (having two meanings with intent to deceive)

evasive (deliberately vague or ambiguous)

indeterminate (of uncertain or ambiguous nature)

Also:

ambiguous (having more than one possible meaning)

Antonym:

unequivocal (admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion)

Derivation:

equivocalness (unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Open to question

Context example:

his conscience reproached him with the equivocal character of the union into which he had forced his son

Similar:

questionable (subject to question)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Uncertain as a sign or indication

Context example:

the evidence from bacteriologic analysis was equivocal

Similar:

inconclusive (not conclusive; not putting an end to doubt or question)

 Context examples 

However, the researchers determined that these were equivocal findings, meaning it was unclear if any of these tumor increases were related to RFR.

(High exposure to radiofrequency radiation linked to tumor activity in male rats, National Institutes of Health)

For female rats, and male and female mice, the evidence was equivocal as to whether cancers observed were associated with exposure to RFR.

(High exposure to radio frequency radiation associated with cancer, National Institutes of Health)

And you have derived pleasure from occasional tokens of preference—equivocal tokens shown by a gentleman of family and a man of the world to a dependent and a novice.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

On his side the inclination was stronger, on hers less equivocal.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

In fact, there was nothing equivocal about him.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Elizabeth saw directly that her father had not the smallest intention of yielding; but his answers were at the same time so vague and equivocal, that her mother, though often disheartened, had never yet despaired of succeeding at last.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

He made a curious grimace—one of his strange and equivocal demonstrations—threw down his cue and followed me from the room.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Johnson, the man who had chafed me raw when I first came aboard, seemed the least equivocal of the men forward or aft.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)