Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

weasel word

noun

Definition of weasel word

: a word used in order to evade or retreat from a direct or forthright statement or position
Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about weasel word

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

Some people believe that weasels can suck the insides out of an egg without damaging the shell. An egg thus weasel-treated would look fine on the outside, but it would actually be empty and useless. We don't know if weasels can really do that, but the belief that they could caused people to start using "weasel word" to refer to any term intended to give the impression that everything is fine when the speaker is really trying to avoid answering a question, telling the truth, or taking the blame for something.

Examples of weasel word in a Sentence

“Reorganization” is just a weasel word that the company is using to say that jobs are being eliminated.

First Known Use of weasel word

1900, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for weasel word

from the weasel's reputed habit of sucking the contents out of an egg while leaving the shell superficially intact

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about weasel word

Listen to Our Podcast about weasel word

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Statistics for weasel word

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for weasel word

The first known use of weasel word was in 1900

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for weasel word

weasel word

noun

English Language Learners Definition of weasel word

informal + disapproving : a word used in order to avoid being clear or direct

See the full definition for weasel word in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on weasel word

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with weasel word

Comments on weasel word

What made you want to look up weasel word? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

contraption

Listen to the pronounciation of contraption

a device or gadget

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a closeup of a sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games