Standard Lemma guide

palter

verb · 6 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: /ˈpɒltə/
  • UK: /ˈpɔːltə/
  • General-American: /ˈpɔl.tɚ/
  • cot-caught-merger: /ˈpɑl.tɚ/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɒltə(ɹ)
  • rhymes with -ɔːltə(ɹ)

1

verb

Meaning 1

To talk insincerely; to prevaricate or equivocate in speech or actions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To talk insincerely; to prevaricate or equivocate in speech or actions.

To give a false impression by selective use of true but misleading statements.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: psychology and mediation

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To trifle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To haggle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To babble; to chatter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: beat around the bush, equivocate, tergiversate, prevaricate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: misinform, mislead

History

Etymology

Probably from Middle English *palter (“rag, trifle, worthless thing”), from Middle Low German palter (“rag, cloth”). More at paltry.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: усуквам (usukvam) — to talk insincerely
  • Bulgarian: извъртам (izvǎrtam) — to talk insincerely
  • Chinese Mandarin: 敷衍搪塞 (fū yǎn táng sè) — to talk insincerely
  • Finnish: vilpistellä — to talk insincerely
  • Finnish: kieroilla — to talk insincerely
  • Finnish: kierrellä ja kaarrella — to talk insincerely
  • Russian: виля́ть (viljátʹ) — to talk insincerely
  • Russian: темни́ть (temnítʹ) — to talk insincerely
  • Russian: извора́чиваться (izvoráčivatʹsja) — to talk insincerely
  • Spanish: insincero — to talk insincerely
  • Spanish: mentir — to talk insincerely