plausible deniability

English

Etymology

Originally CIA jargon from the 1950s, and popularized during the Watergate scandal (1970s).

Noun

plausible deniability (uncountable)

1. (politics, business, military, espionage) The organization of clandestine activity in such a way that knowledge of its existence may be denied by those in authority.
   • 1987 July 16, Meyer Rangell, “Letters: Deniable Plausibility?”, in New York Times, retrieved 8 June 2015:

     Lieut. Col. Oliver L. North may have added a memorable phrase to the lexicon of political obfuscation at the Iran-contra hearings when he referred to his concern for "plausible deniability" as he carried out his covert activities.

   • 2001 June 24, Douglas C. Waller, “The Americans Left Behind”, in Time, retrieved 8 June 2015:

     Americans would stand out in the Laotian jungle, and Washington needed to retain plausible deniability. CIA officials demanded that Laotians on their payroll carry out the mission.

   • 2014 October 8, Davia Temin, “The Role Of Boards In Crisis”, in Forbes, retrieved 8 June 2015:

     No longer is plausible deniability acceptable, either for boards or for management. Corporate and nonprofit boards alike are expected to know of problems that are brewing deep within their organizations.

Related terms

• plausible denial
• plausibly deny

Translations

organization of a clandestine activity

• Finnish: uskottava kiistettävyys
• French: déni plausible m
• German: glaubhafte Abstreitbarkeit f, glaubhafte Bestreitbarkeit f
• Polish: wiarygodne zaprzeczenie n
• Russian: правдоподо́бное отрица́ние n (pravdopodóbnoje otricánije)