A-Z Popular New Top Search »
top   »  thinking   »  fallacies   »  equivocation

What is Equivocation?

 , updated on
Image
Equivocation is the use of a word with more than one meaning in a misleading way. For example:
---
I have the right to eat as much as I want. Therefore, it is right of me to eat 12 hamburgers.
Ducks have feathers. All feathers are light. Therefore ducks are a light color.
Nothing is better than happiness. A donut is better than nothing. Therefore a donut is better than happiness.
---
The examples above are intended to be obvious. However, equivocation can be used in ways that are difficult to detect. As such they may cause innocent errors in judgment. Equivocation can also be used as a tool of politics and persuasion such as doublespeak.
Overview: Equivocation
Type
Fallacy
Definition
The use of a word with more than one meaning in a misleading way.
Related Concepts
Doublespeak
Fallacies
Cognitive Biases

44 Shares

Thinking

This is the complete list of articles we have written about thinking.
Abductive Reasoning
Abstract Thinking
Abstraction
Aesthetics
Analogy
Analysis Paralysis
Analytical Thinking
Anomie
Argument
Argument From Silence
Arrow Of Time
Assertions
Automaticity
Backward Induction
Base Rate Fallacy
Benefit Of Doubt
Big Picture
Brainstorming
Call To Action
Catch 22
Causality
Choice Architecture
Circular Reasoning
Cognition
Cognitive Abilities
Cognitive Biases
Cold Logic
Collective Intelligence
Complexity Bias
Concept
Consciousness
Constructive Criticism
Convergent Thinking
Counterfactual Thinking
Creative Tension
Creeping Normality
Critical Thinking
Culture
Curse Of Knowledge
Decision Fatigue
Decision Framing
Decision Making
Defensive Pessimism
Design Thinking
Divergent Thinking
Educated Guess
Emotional Intelligence
Epic Meaning
Essential Complexity
Excluded Middle
Failure Of Imagination
Fallacies
Fallacy Fallacy
False Analogy
False Balance
False Dichotomy
False Equivalence
First Principles
Formal Logic
Four Causes
Fuzzy Logic
Gambler's Fallacy
Generalization
Golden Hammer
Good Judgement
Grey Area
Groupthink
Heuristics
Hindsight Bias
Hope
Idealism
Ideas
If-By-Whiskey
Illogical Success
Imagination
Independent Thinking
Inductive Reasoning
Inference
Influencing
Informal Logic
Information
Information Cascade
Introspection
Intuition
Inventive Step
Learning
Lifestyle
Logic
Logical Argument
Logical Thinking
Ludic Fallacy
Magical Thinking
Meaning
Mental Experiences
Mental State
Mindset
Misuse of Statistics
Motivated Reasoning
Natural Language
Nirvana Fallacy
Norms
Not Even Wrong
Objective Reason
Objectivity
Opinion
Overthinking
Perception
Personal Values
Perspective
Positive Thinking
Practical Thinking
Pragmatism
Premise
Problem Solving
Proof By Example
Propositional Logic
Prosecutor's Fallacy
Radical Chic
Rational Thought
Realism
Reality
Reason
Reasoning
Red Herring
Reflective Thinking
Reification
Relativism
Salience
Scarcity Mindset
Scientism
Selective Attention
Serendipity
Situational Awareness
Sour Grapes
State Of Mind
Storytelling
Subjectivity
Systems Thinking
Thinking
Thought Experiment
Unknown Unknowns
Visual Thinking
Want To Believe
Whataboutism
Win-Win Thinking
Wishful Thinking
Worldview

Citation

John Spacey. "What is Equivocation?." Simplicable. Retrieved June 22, 2026. from https://simplicable.com/en/equivocation

Fallacies

A list of logical fallacies.

Fallacy Fallacy

The fallacy of being too worried about fallacy.

Cognitive Biases

A list of common cognitive biases explained.

Broken Window Fallacy

An overview of the broken window fallacy.

Overwhelming Exception

A common logical fallacy.

Prosecutor's Fallacy

An overview of the Prosecutor's Fallacy.

Whataboutism

The definition of whataboutism with examples.

Double Bind

The definition of a double bind with examples.

False Equivalence

The definition of false equivalence with examples.

Logic

A few logic terms explained.

Law Of Excluded Middle

A classical law of logic first established by Aristotle.

Fuzzy Logic

Logic that allows for partial truths.

Logic vs Intelligence

The difference between logic and intelligence.

Causality

The definition of causality with examples.

Magical Thinking

The definition of magical thinking with examples.

Scientism

The definition of scientism with examples.

Mutually Exclusive

The definition of mutually exclusive with examples.

False Balance

The definition of false balance with examples.

Trending

The most popular articles on Simplicable in the past day.

New Articles

Recent posts or updates on Simplicable.
Site Map
Behavior
Cognitive Biases
Communication
Computing
Creativity
Critical Thinking
Data
Decision Making
Design Thinking
Emotion
Ethics
Experiments
Information
Media
Philosophy
Problem Solving
Productivity
Rational Thought
Reality
Risk
Science
Social Thinking
Storytelling
More ...
© 2010-2026 Simplicable. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of materials found on this site, in any form, without explicit permission is prohibited.

View credits & copyrights for this page.

Home About     Privacy Policy     Cookies Terms of Use     Contact Us Advertising Search


Cookies help us deliver our services. You have choices regarding these cookies. Please visit our privacy policy, cookie policy and consent tool to learn more.


Copyright 2002-2026 Simplicable. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or translated. Report violations here.
Image