circumvention
Americannoun
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the act of bypassing or going around something.
Taking the northern route, to allow circumvention of the mountains, made the journey twice as long.
-
the act of avoiding, evading, or forestalling something, often by cleverness or deception.
Thorough consultation before implementing an innovation allows for the circumvention of potential risks.
Etymology
Origin of circumvention
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin circumventiōn-, stem of circumventiō “a coming around, surrounding; oppression,” equivalent to circumvent ( def. ) + -ion ( def. )
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.
The Clippers’ offseason was engulfed by the NBA’s salary-cap circumvention investigation into the team’s endorsement deals with Kawhi Leonard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
Investigators have found that Leonard’s camp got the Clippers to agree, according to the findings of a nearly yearlong investigation by Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, to audacious levels of salary cap circumvention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
German fans have long criticised Red Bull for its multi-club model and effective circumvention of the much-loved 50+1 rule, which guarantees supporter voting rights at German clubs.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The EU will also be on the lookout for circumvention, as well as any effort to reroute small parcels to the bloc via countries like Switzerland.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
Without further circumvention he went to the safe, and examined it.
From Rolling Stones by O. Henry
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
