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Equivocation

Using the same word in different senses within an argument as if its meaning stayed fixed.

Published 04 August 2026Updated 04 August 2026

Equivocation creates a false appearance of support by shifting a key term's meaning between premises or between a premise and conclusion. Rewrite the argument with a separate, precise term for each meaning to expose the gap.

Sources

Fallacies (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy / 2024 / Website

Canonical philosophical treatment of fallacy types.