prevarication

[ pri-var-i-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of prevaricating, or lying:

   Seeing the expression on his mother's face, Nathan realized this was no time for prevarication.

2. a false or deliberate misstatement; lie:

   Her many prevarications had apparently paid off; she was free to go.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prevarication¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle French, from Latin praevāricātiō-, stem of praevāricātiō “collusion,” equivalent to praevāricāt(us), past participle of praevāricārī “to collude something, (of an advocate) collude with an opponent's advocate” + -iō -ion ( def ); prevaricate ( def )

Example Sentences

If you take those ingredients, stir in some childhood trauma, sprinkle on some “Curb Your Enthusiasm” prevarication — Steph is the only completely honest major character — and finish it off with a big scoop of sentiment, you might wind up with something along the lines of “Mr. Throwback.”

From Los Angeles Times

Empire's John Nugent, giving it four stars, added: "It never lets up, always gripping, always pummelling your senses, always ghoulishly compelling. Whatever your response to its political prevarication, this is undeniably confident, intense, sweaty-palmed filmmaking at the highest level."

From BBC

The source who alerted The Times to VOA’s decision feared it suggested prevarication by the administration.

From Washington Times

It was a prevarication right up there with President Biden falsely accusing former President Donald Trump of calling neo-Nazi marchers in Charlottesville, Virginia, “very fine people.”

From Washington Times

Green or not, Chris calmly walks Cybil into a corner with Mia's assistance, following a barrage of prevarication: "In the interest of transparency, was I hired for a permanent anchor position because I am black?"

From Salon

Related Words

• dishonesty
• equivocation
• falsehood