A fallacy of ambiguity occurs when an argument relies on ambiguous language or unclear definitions to mislead. These fallacies often exploit the vagueness or multiple meanings of terms to make an argument seem strong when it is not.
Fallacies in this category include the following:
Equivocation fallacy: Shifting the meaning of a key term within an argument to mislead or confuse
Amphiboly fallacy: Justifying a misinterpretation of a statement by exploiting its ambiguous sentence structure
Motte and bailey fallacy: Defending a controversial position by retreating to a more widely accepted position when challenged, then returning to the original position