circumvent

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

/ ˌsɜr kəmˈvɛnt, ˈsɜr kəmˌvɛnt /

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See synonyms for: circumvent / circumvented / circumvention on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR circumvent

2 escape, elude, evade, outwit.

3 encircle; ensnare.

See synonyms for circumvent on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of circumvent

1545–55; <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, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use circumvent in a sentence

That’s why four former FDA commissioners sent a letter to Congress highlighting the dangers of circumventing our nation’s drug supply chain, which is currently the safest in the world.
Importing drugs endangers lives|Earl D. Fowlkes Jr.|December 4, 2020|Washington Blade
The letter was among evidence that Asadi used to appeal to the United States, circumventing Afghan channels, he said.
Legendary Afghan pilot in hiding after U.S. reverses decision to help him flee Taliban|Alex Horton|December 3, 2020|Washington Post
The NFL knows the coronavirus is a problem and has spent the entire year planning to circumvent it.
The coronavirus has turned the NFL into a joke, and nobody should be laughing|Jerry Brewer|November 30, 2020|Washington Post
What has received much less attention is whether these two men circumvented the rules to get access to experimental drugs outside clinical trials, and if so, how their actions could affect drug development.
Drug companies shouldn’t play favorites in granting access to experimental covid-19 treatments|Amy Nordrum|October 24, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Because most major demand-side platforms offer Google ad inventory, political advertisers can circumvent the targeting limitations by going to another platform that offers microtargeted Google display ad inventory.
‘Wouldn’t make economic sense’: Despite hyped targeting restrictions on 2020 political ads, few new limits are in place|jim cooper|October 12, 2020|Digiday
If it can be, let it be done fairly, openly, and without circumvention.
The Right of American Slavery|True Worthy Hoit
Now in this latter attempt, the subtilty of his circumvention, hath indirectly obtained the former.
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne (Volume 1 of 3)|Thomas Browne
He had a vigorous ally in my mother, who brought her own bright wits to bear on the circumvention of the enemy.
Sigurd Our Golden Collie and Other Comrades of the Road|Katharine Lee Bates
What a pity that this diminution of tail and claws does not signify a corresponding decrease of cruel and stealthy circumvention!
A Breeze from the Woods, 2nd Ed.|William Chauncey Bartlett
Circumvention with them aims at permanent results which it alone cannot obtain.
Story of the War in South Africa|Captain A. T. Mahan, U.S.N.

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, adjective

Word Origin for circumvent

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

circumvent

OTHER WORDS FOR circumvent

Origin of circumvent

OTHER WORDS FROM circumvent

Words related to circumvent

How to use circumvent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for circumvent

Derived forms of circumvent

Word Origin for circumvent