tergiversation

noun

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ter·gi·ver·sa·tion | \ ˌtər-ˌji-vər-ˈsā-shən

, -ˌgi-; ˌtər-ji-(ˌ)vər- \

Definition of tergiversation

1 : evasion of straightforward action or clear-cut statement : equivocation

2 : desertion of a cause, position, party, or faith

Synonyms Did you know? Example Sentences Learn More About tergiversation

Did you know?

The roots of tergiversation are about an unwillingness to pick a course and stay on it. The Latin verb tergiversari means "to show reluctance," and it comes from the combining of tergum, meaning "back," and versare, meaning "to turn." (While versare and its related form, vertere, turn up in the etymologies of many English words, including versatile and invert, tergum is at the root of only a few, among them tergal, an obscure synonym of dorsal.) While the "desertion" meaning of tergiversation is both older and a better reflection of the meanings of its etyma, the word is more frequently used as a synonym of equivocation. The related verb tergiversate is a somewhat rare synonym of equivocate.

Examples of tergiversation in a Sentence

like most politicians, he has the gift for tergiversation

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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster

Dictionary Entries Near tergiversation

tergiversate

tergiversation

tergiversatory

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Cite this Entry

“Tergiversation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tergiversation. Accessed 17 May. 2022.

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