Tergiversate

The word of the year for 2011 and it is a verb meaning "to change repeatedly one's attitude or opinions with respect to a cause, subject, etc." or to turn renegade. Basically it means you like to change your mind a lot.


Pronounced "ter-jiv-er-sate", it's associated with rapidly changing situations and is fitting to our political and economic times.
The word dates back to 1645 and is derived for the Latin term Tergiversor, meaning to turn one's back or make excuses.

The politicians vowed not to tergiversate but that was all they did, so nothing was accomplished.

Politicians often tergiversate on important issues and principles.

People no longer wished to vote for the girl who constantly tergiversated in order to gain the favor of the class.

While tergiversate may not be common place it has been used in the press before.

"The tergiversations of stock markets are often puzzling from the outside,"

wrote Oliver Kamm of The Times of London.
Flesch–Kincaid: 10.5