indirect

[ in-duh-rekt, -dahy- ]

adjective

1. not in a direct course or path; deviating from a straight line; roundabout:

   an indirect course in sailing.

2. coming or resulting otherwise than directly or immediately, as effects or consequences:

   an indirect advantage.

   Synonyms: secondary, unintentional, incidental

3. not direct in action or procedure:

   His methods are indirect but not dishonest.

4. not straightforward; devious; deceitful:

   He is known as a shady, indirect fellow.

5. not direct in bearing, application, force, etc.:

   indirect evidence.

6. Grammar. of, relating to, or characteristic of indirect discourse:

   an indirect quote.

7. not descending in a direct line of succession, as a title or inheritance.

indirect

/ ˌɪndɪˈrɛkt /

adjective

1. deviating from a direct course or line; roundabout; circuitous
2. not coming as a direct effect or consequence; secondary

   indirect benefits

3. not straightforward, open, or fair; devious or evasive

   an indirect insult

4. (of a title or an inheritance) not inherited in an unbroken line of succession from father to son

Derived Forms

• ˌindiˈrectly, adverb
• ˌindiˈrectness, noun

Other Words From

• in·di·rect·ly adverb
• in·di·rect·ness noun
• sem·i-in·di·rect adjective
• sem·i-in·di·rect·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of indirect¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; a Middle English word from the Medieval Latin word indīrēctus; in- ³, direct

Example Sentences

This is true, but it indicates the other, more indirect cost of Edmund.

From The Daily Beast

Living with the threat of random death raining down leads to a strange way of life, a pathology of indirect fire.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, officials are musing about indirect sources of supply, by and through third countries.

From The Daily Beast

And the new channels tend to be underground, indirect, and unaccountable.

From The Daily Beast

Additionally, if inflation happened, it was so early on that we can only ever see indirect evidence for it.

From The Daily Beast

In such cases, Synthesis, which is taught hereafter, develops an indirect relation.

From Project Gutenberg

Indirect lighting gave a pretty gleam to the metal gadgets on the tables.

From Project Gutenberg

Here undoubtedly we may see the indirect influence which the New School exercised upon Tchaikovsky.

From Project Gutenberg

Signalized as the hardiest of the indirect allies of the brigands in the affair of the "Chauffeurs of Mortagne."

From Project Gutenberg

Robert Burns, who has sung of the haggis and the whisky of his native land, has only made indirect mention of porridge.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ambiguous
• ancillary
• circuitous
• implied
• incidental
• oblique
• tortuous