Equivocation

In logic, equivocation ('calling two different things by the same name') is an informal fallacy resulting from the use of a particular word/expression in multiple senses throughout an argument leading to a false conclusion. Abbott and Costello's 'Who's on first?' routine is a well known example of equivocation. In logic, equivocation ('calling two different things by the same name') is an informal fallacy resulting from the use of a particular word/expression in multiple senses throughout an argument leading to a false conclusion. Abbott and Costello's 'Who's on first?' routine is a well known example of equivocation. It is a type of ambiguity that stems from a phrase having two distinct meanings, not from the grammar or structure of the sentence. Some examples of equivocation in syllogisms (a logical chain of reasoning) are below: