Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Prevarication

//pɹɪˌvæɹ.ɪˈkeɪ.ʃən// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Evasion of the truth. countable, uncountable

    "Prevarication became the order of the day in his government while truth was a stranger in those halls."

  2. 2
    the deliberate act of deviating from the truth wordnet
  3. 3
    Deviation from what is right or correct. archaic, countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    intentionally vague or ambiguous wordnet
  5. 5
    A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office. countable, uncountable
Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth wordnet
  2. 7
    The collusion of an informer with the defendant, for the purpose of making a sham prosecution. Ancient-Rome, countable, historical, uncountable
  3. 8
    A false or deceitful seeming to undertake a thing for the purpose of defeating or destroying it. countable, uncountable

    "If it shall appeare, that they haue forfeited their Faith, or wronged their Client by preuarication."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin praevāricātiō (“collusion with an opponent; duplicity, deceit; violation of duty, transgression”, literally “stepping out of line”), from praevāricor (“to walk crookedly; go astray; transgress”) + -tās. The virtually obsolete sense of deviation or transgression may have been influenced by an earlier stage of borrowing via Middle English prevaricacioun, prevaricacion (“deviation from the law; transgression”) from Anglo-Norman prevaricaciun (“transgression, violation of correct conduct”).

See also for "prevarication"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Want a quick game? Try Word Finder.