How to pronounce prevaricate
Say it like prih-VAR-ih-kayt. Prevaricate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce prevaricate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- prih
- VAR
- ih
- kayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prevaricate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- VARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kaytKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of prevaricate
American and British speakers say prevaricate in essentially the same way: /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ in the US and /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: prih-VAR-ih-kayt.
What does prevaricate mean?
- To speak or act in a manner that is intentionally ambiguous or evasive; equivocate.“The people saw the politician prevaricate every day.”
- To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution.
- To undertake something falsely and deceitfully, with the purpose of defeating or destroying it.
Where does prevaricate come from?
Borrowed from Latin praevāricātus, perfect active participle of praevāricor (“to walk crookedly; to play a false or double part”), from prae- + vāricō (“to stand with feet apart, straddle”), from vāricus (“with feet spread apart”); see -ate
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying prevaricate
How do you pronounce prevaricate?
Say prih-VAR-ih-kayt. The American pronunciation is /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/. In British English it is /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prevaricate?
Prevaricate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAR). Broken into parts: prih · VAR · ih · kayt.
Do Americans and Brits say prevaricate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ and the British form is /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.