What term describes the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or avoid commitment?

Equivocation is the term that describes the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or avoid commitment. This linguistic technique often involves using vague or misleading language that allows the speaker to evade clear statements or definite answers. For example, when someone intentionally uses terms that have multiple interpretations to avoid taking a stand on an issue, they are employing equivocation.

In contrast, prevarication generally refers to the act of lying or being deliberately ambiguous but is often more focused on the act of misleading rather than just the use of language itself. Cliché refers to overused expressions that lack originality, which does not apply to the concept of ambiguity or evasion. A paradox involves a statement that contradicts itself but may contain a truth, which is not the primary focus here. Therefore, equivocation accurately captures the essence of using language to obscure truth or evade commitment.