avoidance

[ uh-void-ns ]

noun

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.

Other Words From

• nona·voidance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of avoidance¹

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

Example Sentences

It has obstacle avoidance built-in, but if it should tip over for some reason, it can right itself without human help.

From Popular-Science

There are national endeavors, predominately in the United States, for satellite tracking and collision avoidance maneuvering.

From Singularity Hub 

The company’s new camera system is a step toward deploying more advanced safety features such as forward collision avoidance and wrong-way-riding detection, Ko said.

From Washington Post

Improved regulation could help China crack down on wayward businesses—tackling issues of pollution and tax avoidance, for example.

From Fortune

Combined, they provide collision avoidance and drop-off protection to keep riders safe—plus, they boast an anti-tip alert system that automatically notifies loved ones in case of an accident.

From Popular-Science

The real advisers to the Ready for Hillary organization are almost comically precise in their avoidance of the term “campaign.”

From The Daily Beast

Existential crisis in this reading is not an apprehension of reality, but a symptom of its avoidance.

From The Daily Beast

But those who worked with Charles in advertising say that his avoidance of contact was not shyness, but a deliberate campaign.

From The Daily Beast

In addition, new tax rates kicked in on higher income individuals thanks to the fiscal cliff avoidance deal.

From The Daily Beast

Why not get rid of the tax, and the tax avoidance, by radically simplifying the tax code?

From The Daily Beast

Their avoidance of each other arose, perhaps, from a sort of instinct which was certainly no matter of ill-will.

From Project Gutenberg

Now Gregson had nothing of this desire for avoidance with regard to Mr. Gray.

From Project Gutenberg

And why should I suspect him at all, in the face of Mrs. Saltillo's confessed avoidance of him?

From Project Gutenberg

Many, perhaps, will see an additional cause in teleological considerations, aiming at the avoidance of in-and-in breeding.

From Project Gutenberg

He sounded me, pushed out his mouth and pulled down his nose, recommended avoidance of excitement.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• evasion
• prevention
• restraint