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Is there a word of phrase for someone who denies their own statement?

It’s like when somebody snitches and then denies having done so.

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1  
Besides "liar", right? That's a good question. – Joe Z. Feb 23 at 20:31
He'd probably call himself "a victim of misquotation." – Sven Yargs Feb 23 at 21:09
double-crosser? – Oliver Mason Feb 23 at 21:36
3  
why specifically Canadian English? Do you have reason to believe Canadians use a different word for this than other English-speaking people? – Kate Gregory Feb 23 at 23:22

2 Answers

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Recanter noun (formal) a person who makes a repudiation or withdrawal of a former belief or statement, esp formally in public (Collins English Dictionary)

from recant (v.) 1530s, from Latin recantare "recall, revoke," from re- "back" (see re-) + cantare "to chant" (see chant (v.)). A word from the Reformation. Loan-translation of Greek palinoidein "recant," from palin "back" + oeidein "to sing." (Online Etymology Dictionary)

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But would that not be a deliberate and public retraction, rather than underhand denial as implied by the question? Recanter sounds too honourable for that. – Oliver Mason Feb 23 at 22:27
@OliverMason no, recanting just means that they recanted. It can be a deeply dishonourable thing to do, depending on just what was recanted and why. – Jon Hanna Feb 24 at 1:46
up vote 0 down vote

In legal parlance, a witness can sometimes turn hostile or contradict himself.

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