English Reference

Word

unequivocal

Phoneticsun·equiv·o·cal

US/ˌəniˈkwɪvəkəɫ/

UK/ʌnɪkwˈɪvəkəl/

Definition

adj. clear and easy to understand. You use this to describe something that leaves no room for doubt or confusion.

adj. leaving no doubt or ambiguity; clearly stated or expressed.

Examples

“The results of the test were unequivocal.”

“The manager gave an unequivocal answer when asked if the project would be finished on time.”

“The evidence presented by the prosecution was so unequivocal that the jury reached a verdict within a single afternoon.”

Examples

simple

“The results of the test were unequivocal.”

contextual

“The manager gave an unequivocal answer when asked if the project would be finished on time.”

complex

“The evidence presented by the prosecution was so unequivocal that the jury reached a verdict within a single afternoon.”

Real-World Examples

“This is the first time that a WMO El Niño/La Niña Update has been so unequivocal, reflecting the strong agreement within WMO's extensive network.”
Phys.org · 4 Sept 2026
“When President Donald Trump responded to mounting calls for a slowdown in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) on Monday, he was unequivocal.”
BBC · 15 Sept 2026
“Since the observed climate change generally bears this fingerprint, its cause is unequivocal.”
Phys.org · 17 Aug 2026
“Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation.”
The Guardian · 12 Aug 2025

Etymology

From un- + equivocal.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

unequivocalAdjectiveunequivocallyAdverb

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/unequivocal

English Reference