Home US English tergiversation

Definition of tergiversation in English:

tergiversation

noun

See tergiversate

‘A small, red-headed, squinting man, Clarendon described him as of ‘extraordinary cunning’, though in the end his contorted tergiversations overwhelmed him.’
  • ‘You may call it tergiversation, but we pros call it diplomacy.’
  • ‘The Treasury displayed the utmost determination, ingenuity, tergiversation and meanness of spirit in trying to cut his fees.’

Pronunciation

tergiversation

/ˌtərjəvərˈsāSH(ə)n/ /ˌtərdʒəvərˈseɪʃ(ə)n/