avoidance

American  

[uh-void-ns] / əˈvɔɪd ns /

noun

• avoidances
  plural

1. the act of avoiding or keeping away from.

   the avoidance of scandal; the avoidance of one's neighbors.

2. Law. a making void; annulment.

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avoidance British  

/ əˈvɔɪdəns /

noun

1. the act of keeping away from or preventing from happening

2. law

   1. the act of annulling or making void

   2. the countering of an opponent's plea with fresh evidence

3. ecclesiastical law the state of a benefice having no incumbent

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonavoidance
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• avoidances
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of avoidance

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French; see avoid, -ance

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

avoidance avoidances

Work on automated safeguards continued, with ground-collision avoidance systems later ending up in some U.S. jet fighters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

The fact that “Lanterns” is a conversation with and about fear — its avoidance and the lengths we go to to negate it — explains the audience’s divided response to the show.

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026

"For the avoidance of doubt, we accept that both Ms Campbell's evidence, as well as her conduct during the operation of the Charity, was entirely honest," they said.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

“These vary widely, underscoring the importance of understanding local laws if probate avoidance is a priority. Even a single missed step can inadvertently trigger probate.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 27, 2026

I avoided the place when I could, and barely tolerated it when avoidance didn’t work.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

In worry exposure the person is told to set a daily time to purposefully seat in a "worry chair" and think repeatedly about the thoughts that are anxiety provoking without engaging in distractions or avoidances.

From New York Times ● Oct. 20, 2016

Superstitions are not free—rituals and avoidances cost an animal in terms of energy or lost opportunities.

From US News ● Jun. 8, 2011

Mr. Marsh's aspect, if anything, pleased her; she liked these avoidances of the commonplace.

From The Emancipated by George Gissing

Here it is proposed intentionally to set up a galvanic couple to prevent corrosion; there, with the same object in view, the avoidances of galvanic action is counselled.

From Acetylene, the Principles of Its Generation and Use A Practical Handbook on the Production, Purification, and Subsequent Treatment of Acetylene for the Development of Light, Heat, and Power by F. H. (Frank Henley) Leeds

These things he learned more by averted glances and partially concealed avoidances than by overt act or speech.

From 'As Gold in the Furnace' A College Story by John E. Copus

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Related Words

• evasion
• prevention
• restraint

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