What is "weasel word"

n. (context pejorative English) A word used to qualify a statement so as to make it potentially misleading. vb. To use weasel words.

n. an equivocal qualification; a word used to avoid making an outright assertion

A weasel word (also, anonymous authority) is an informal term for words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that a specific and/or meaningful statement has been made, when only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated, enabling the specific meaning to be denied if the statement is challenged.

To tergiversate is synonymous with the use of weasel words to avoid making an outright assertion. Weasel words can imply meaning far beyond the claim actually being made. Some weasel words may also have the effect of softening the force of a potentially loaded or otherwise controversial statement through some form of understatement, for example using detensifiers such as "somewhat" or "in most respects".

Weasel words can be used in advertising and in political statements, where causing the audience to develop a misleading impression of what was said can be advantageous, at least in the short term (in the longer term, systematic deception is likely to be identified, with a loss of trust in the speaker).