avoidance
Americannoun
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the act of avoiding or keeping away from.
the avoidance of scandal; the avoidance of one's neighbors.
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Law. a making void; annulment.
noun
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the act of keeping away from or preventing from happening
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law
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the act of annulling or making void
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the countering of an opponent's plea with fresh evidence
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ecclesiastical law the state of a benefice having no incumbent
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of avoidance
Explanation
The act of deliberately keeping yourself away from something is avoidance. Your avoidance of the outdoors this summer has left you very pale! Some types of avoidance make a lot of sense, like the avoidance of horror movies by someone who's easily frightened. Others are less healthy, like your avoidance of doing homework, which inevitably leads to a panic when you realize it's all due tomorrow. In law, avoidance means "making something nullified or void," the way failing to fulfill certain obligations can result in avoidance of a signed contract.
Vocabulary lists containing avoidance
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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"Living Like Weasels," Vocabulary from the essay
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Free Period
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Avoidance goals require constant vigilance and a battle of will, while approach goals build momentum and, over time, reshape identity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025
Avoidance of the financial system can mean you might reject products and services that can ultimately help you.
From Salon • Feb. 1, 2025
According to the website The School Avoidance Alliance, it can affect up to about a quarter of pupils at some point in the school lives.
From BBC • Sep. 6, 2023
Avoidance can also mean neglecting to spend when you should.
From New York Times • Jul. 5, 2023
The book to which I refer is Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance, by a Canadian academic named Stephen Herrero.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
