To deviate, transgress; to go astray (from).
prevaricate in U.S. law
• To speak or act in a manner that is intentionally ambiguous or evasive; equivocate.
• 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.
The practical impact of prevaricate
prevaricate appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
prevaricate — procedural details
In practice, prevaricate is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.