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
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.
For most people, moderation matters more than complete avoidance.
From Science Daily • May 18, 2026
It started with members from one group chasing the other and prolonged periods of avoidance.
From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026
But at some point, financial engineering stops being strategy and starts being avoidance.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026
The Telegraph's Robbie Collin said the resulting film was a "whitewash", adding that the avoidance of any mention of the allegations was a "borderline-fatal problem".
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
There was a slight, furtive boy whom no one knew, who kept to himself with an inner intensity of avoidance and secrecy.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
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.
