Noncommittal

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌnɒnkəˈmɪtl̩/

Definitions

1. Deliberately avoiding expressing a definite opinion or making a clear commitment to a particular course of action
2. Characterized by a lack of definitive commitment or clear opinion while maintaining openness to various possibilities or choices
3. Exhibiting an unwillingness to make a firm decision or express strong feelings about a matter, thereby remaining ambiguous and flexible

Etymology: The word is built from two parts you probably already know: the prefix "non-", meaning "not," and "committal," a noun-derived adjective from "commit," which in English has long meant to bind, entrust, or pledge oneself. A committal statement is one that pledges you to a position, so a noncommittal reply is one that pledges you to nothing at all. The "commit" at its heart comes from Latin "committere," meaning to bring together, join, or entrust. Its sense of putting yourself on the line for a view grew out of that idea of tying yourself to something. The "non-" prefix is the ordinary English negation attached to an existing adjective, so the word is a straightforward formation rather than a single coinage. The Oxford English Dictionary records the word as an adjective and as a noun, and the adjective sense of avoiding a firm position is the one in everyday use today.

Synonyms: indecisive, ambivalent, evasive, neutral, reserved

Antonyms: decisive, committed, definite, certain, resolute