/ ɪˈkwɪvəkl; NAmE / adjective ( formal )
1.
( of words or statements ) not having one clear or definite meaning or intention; able to be understood in more than one way
SYN ambiguous :
She gave an equivocal answer, typical of a politician.
2.
( of actions or behaviour ) difficult to understand or explain clearly or easily :
The experiments produced equivocal results.
—see also unequivocal
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from late Latin aequivocus , from Latin aequus equally + vocare to call.