noun

prevarication

prih-vair-ih-KAY-shun/prɪˌværɪˈkeɪʃn/

Speech that deliberately avoids telling the truth.

The seller's prevarication avoids explaining the broken leg and praises the upholstery instead.

A furniture seller verbally steers a buyer away from an obvious broken chair leg by enthusiastically presenting its attractive upholstery instead.

Etymology

preLatinbefore

+varicLatinstraddle

+ationLatinaction or process

“Before” and “straddle” combined in a verb literally meaning “walk crookedly.” The image became stepping out of line in duty or behavior, then departing from truth and plain dealing.

In context

Fox Business0:57

you know this is just another example of prevarication you know it was you know in Bosnia dodging bullets

Ben Carson: Latest in Clinton scandal another example of prevarication

More examples

Please explain what happened without excuses or prevarication.
Her vague reply sounds like deliberate prevarication, not genuine uncertainty.
Nobody believes his prevarications about the missing money.

Forms

prevarication · prevarications

prevaricate verb — To deliberately avoid telling the truth.

prevaricator noun — Someone who deliberately avoids telling the truth.

Similar words

equivocation: Specifically uses ambiguous wording to avoid a clear commitment.
evasion: Can involve avoiding questions or responsibilities, not just truth.
lying: Usually means stating falsehoods directly rather than dodging the truth.