Definition of equivocal Equivocal

/ɪkwɪˈvʌkʌl/ - [ikwivukul] - e•quiv•o•cal

We found 13 definitions of equivocal from 5 different sources.

What does equivocal mean?

Adjective
equivocal - open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead; "an equivocal statement"; "the polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidates"; "the officer's equivocal behavior increased the victim's uneasiness"; "popularity is an equivocal crown"; "an equivocal response to an embarrassing question"
		ambiguous
		univocal, unambiguous, unequivocal having or exhibiting a single clearly defined meaning; "As a horror, apartheid...is absolutely unambiguous"- Mario Vargas Llosa
		ambiguous having more than one possible meaning; "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy"
		forked, double having two meanings with intent to deceive; "a sly double meaning"; "spoke with forked tongue"
		evasive deliberately vague or ambiguous; "his answers were brief, constrained and evasive"; "an evasive statement"
equivocal - uncertain as a sign or indication; "the evidence from bacteriologic analysis was equivocal"
equivocal - open to question; "aliens of equivocal loyalty"; "his conscience reproached him with the equivocal character of the union into which he had forced his son"-Anna Jameson

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equivocal (Noun)
A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.
equivocal (Adjective)
Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence: Having two or more significations equally applicable; capable of double or multiple interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; as, equivocal words; an equivocal sentence.
equivocal (Adjective)
Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected; as, his actions are equivocal.
equivocal (Adjective)
Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful, incongruous.

equivocal (a.)
(Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) Having two significations equally applicable; capable of double interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; as, equivocal words; an equivocal sentence.
equivocal (a.)
Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected; as, his actions are equivocal.
equivocal (a.)
Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful.
equivocal (n.)
A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.

equivocal
e-kwiv′ō-kal, adj. capable of meaning two or more things: of doubtful meaning: capable of a double explanation: suspicious: questionable.—adv. Equiv′ocally.—n. Equiv′ocalness.—v.i. Equiv′ocāte, to use equivocal or doubtful words in order to mislead.—ns. Equivocā′tion, act of equivocating or using ambiguous words to mislead; Equiv′ocātor.—adj. Equiv′ocātory, containing or characterised by equivocation.—ns. E′quivoke, E′quivoque, an equivocal expression: equivocation: a quibble. [L. æquus, equal, vox, vocis, the voice, a word.]