circumvent
[ sur-kuhm-vent, sur-kuhm-vent ]
/ ˌsɜr kəmˈvɛnt, ˈsɜr kəmˌvɛnt /
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verb (used with object)
to go around or bypass: to circumvent the lake;to circumvent the real issues.
to avoid (defeat, failure, unpleasantness, etc.) by artfulness or deception; avoid by anticipating or outwitting: He circumvented capture by anticipating their movements.
to surround or encompass, as by stratagem; entrap: to circumvent a body of enemy troops.
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Origin of circumvent
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
OTHER WORDS FROM circumvent
cir·cum·vent·er, cir·cum·ven·tor, nouncir·cum·ven·tion, nouncir·cum·ven·tive, adjectiveun·cir·cum·vent·ed, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use circumvent in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for circumvent
circumvent
/ (ˌsɜːkəmˈvɛnt) /
verb (tr)
to evade or go around
to outwit
to encircle (an enemy) so as to intercept or capture
Derived forms of circumvent
circumventer or circumventor, nouncircumvention, nouncircumventive, adjectiveWord Origin for circumvent
C15: from Latin circumvenīre, from circum- + venīre to come
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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