Non-Denial Denial

This is how politicians talk.

The term ‘non-denial denial’ is attributed to a former Washington Post editor who coined the phrase to characterize the uncanny ability politicians and other public figures have for denying an allegation without explicitly denying the allegation.

Example

Non-denial Denial

Bob’s supervisor asks, “Did you leave that mess in the photocopier room?”

Bob replies, “I haven’t printed anything in days.”

Bob has used a non-denial denial. Bob’s supervisor did not ask whether Bob had printed anything; they were asking about the mess in the photocopier room. Bob is not being honest with his supervisor.