Looking up...
unequivocal
/ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəl/
clear and unambiguous
The judge's ruling was unequivocal: the evidence proved the defendant's guilt.
The judge's decision left no room for doubt about the defendant's guilt.
formal
leaving no doubt; unambiguous
Her instructions were unequivocal, so there was no confusion about what to do.
Her clear instructions left no room for misunderstanding.
The company issued an unequivocal denial of the allegations.
The company's response was a firm rejection with no room for interpretation.
Often used in legal, academic, or formal contexts to emphasize clarity.
Collocations
unequivocal evidenceproof that is beyond doubtunequivocal statementa clear and direct declarationunequivocal supportunwavering backing or approval
Pro Tip
Avoiding ambiguity
Use 'unequivocal' to emphasize that something is so clear it leaves no room for doubt. Replace vague phrases like 'pretty clear' or 'mostly sure' with 'unequivocal' in formal contexts.
Gold Rule
Formal tone
Reserve 'unequivocal' for formal writing. In casual speech, simpler words like 'clear' or 'obvious' are more natural.
Word Origin
From Latin *aequus* (equal) + *vocare* (to call), via French *équivoque* (equivocal) with the negative prefix *un-*. Literally means 'not called equally,' implying no room for different interpretations.
Usage Notes
Used to describe statements, evidence, or decisions that are so clear they cannot be misinterpreted. Common in formal writing, legal documents, and academic contexts.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixequi-
equal
root-voc-
to call
root-al
relating to
suffixEnglish Dictionary