circumvent

[sur-kuhm-vent, sur-kuhm-vent]

verb (used with object)

1. to go around or bypass.

   to circumvent the lake;

   to circumvent the real issues.

2. to avoid (defeat, failure, unpleasantness, etc.) by artfulness or deception; avoid by anticipating or outwitting.

   He circumvented capture by anticipating their movements.

   Synonyms: outwit, evade, elude, escape

3. to surround or encompass, as by stratagem; entrap.

   to circumvent a body of enemy troops.

   Synonyms: ensnare, encircle

circumvent

/ ˌsɜːkəmˈvɛnt /

verb

1. to evade or go around

2. to outwit

3. to encircle (an enemy) so as to intercept or capture

Other Word Forms

• circumventive adjective
• circumvention noun
• circumventer noun
• circumventor noun
• uncircumvented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumvent¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin circumventus (past participle of circumvenīre “to come around, surround, oppress, defraud”), equivalent to circum- circum- + ven(īre) “to come” + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumvent¹

C15: from Latin circumvenīre, from _circum- + venīre to come

Example Sentences

A year later, Biggs fell into a legal dispute with city of Los Angeles over a plan to split up the property that residents characterized as a move to circumvent rent control.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Such misrepresentations allowed dishonest borrowers “to circumvent tighter underwriting guidelines imposed by lenders” and obtain lower interest rates.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Kim has projected confidence in his nuclear program, with allies helping him circumvent international sanctions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This design choice allows the company to circumvent “much of the sophisticated set of equipment and specialized materials that are needed to maintain high-pressure operation,” in addition to ensuring safety, analysts wrote.

Read more on Barron's

The president could issue signing statements – a written pronouncement – that reinterpret or ignore parts of the laws, like George W. Bush did in 2006 to circumvent a ban on torture.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• avoid 
• bypass 
• deceive 
• evade 
• prevent 
• sidestep 
• skirt 
• stymie 
• thwart