adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/əˈkwɪvəkəl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/ɪˈkwɪvək(ə)l/
CMU ARPABET:IH0 K W IH1 V AH0 K AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
equivocal words
an equivocal sentence
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ambiguous, indeterminate
Antonyms: unequivocal, univocal
2
adj
Meaning 2
Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
His actions are equivocal.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Uncertain, as an indication or sign.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: uncertain, doubtful, incongruous
Antonyms: certain
4
noun
Meaning 4
A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: double entendre, equivoque
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective
Meaning 5
open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
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
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ambiguous
Antonyms: unequivocal
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
uncertain as a sign or indication
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the evidence from bacteriologic analysis was equivocal
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
open to question-Anna Jameson
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
aliens of equivocal loyalty
his conscience reproached him with the equivocal character of the union into which he had forced his son
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Late Latin aequivocus + -al, from aequus + vocō. By surface analysis, equi- + vocal.
Across languages
Translations
77 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
двусмислен
(dvusmislen)
— having several applicable significations
Dutch:
dubbelzinnig
— having several applicable significations
Finnish:
moniselitteinen
— having several applicable significations
Finnish:
monimerkityksinen
— having several applicable significations
Finnish:
monitulkintainen
— having several applicable significations
French:
équivoque
— having several applicable significations
French:
ambigu
— having several applicable significations
French:
incertain
— having several applicable significations
German:
doppeldeutig
— having several applicable significations
German:
mehrdeutig
— having several applicable significations
Greek:
διφορούμενος
(diforoúmenos)
— having several applicable significations
Greek:
αμφίλογος
(amfílogos)
— having several applicable significations
Indonesian:
taksa
— having several applicable significations
Indonesian:
dwimakna
— having several applicable significations
Italian:
equivoco
— having several applicable significations
Italian:
ambiguo
— having several applicable significations
Italian:
ambivalente
— having several applicable significations
Italian:
ingannevole
— having several applicable significations
Italian:
dubbio
— having several applicable significations
Japanese:
両意にとれる
(ryōi ni toreru)
— having several applicable significations
Macedonian:
двосмислен
(dvosmislen)
— having several applicable significations
Polish:
dwuznaczny
— having several applicable significations
Polish:
niejednoznaczny
— having several applicable significations
Polish:
wieloznaczny
— having several applicable significations
Portuguese:
equívoco
— having several applicable significations
Romanian:
echivoc
— having several applicable significations
Romanian:
ambiguu
— having several applicable significations
Russian:
двусмы́сленный
(dvusmýslennyj)
— having several applicable significations
Spanish:
equívoco
— having several applicable significations
Swedish:
tvetydig
— having several applicable significations
Tagalog:
ekiboko
— having several applicable significations
Turkish:
tevriyeli
— having several applicable significations
Ukrainian:
двозначний
(dvoznačnyj)
— having several applicable significations
Dutch:
twijfelachtig
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
Finnish:
moniselitteinen
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
Finnish:
epämääräinen
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
French:
douteux
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
French:
incertain
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
French:
indéterminé
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
French:
équivoque
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
German:
fragwürdig
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
German:
zweideutig
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
German:
zweifelhaft
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
Greek:
διφορούμενος
(diforoúmenos)
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
Italian:
ambivalente
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
Macedonian:
сомнителен
(somnitelen)
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
Polish:
ambiwalentny
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
Polish:
wymijający
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
Russian:
сомни́тельный
(somnítelʹnyj)
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
Ukrainian:
сумнівний
(sumnivnyj)
— capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters
