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.
Iran is generally a very tech-savvy country, and many people constantly have multiple circumvention apps on their phones.
From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026
Fortunately, the U.S. doesn’t need new legislation to halt such circumvention.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026
Censorship circumvention helps people in restrictive countries access the open internet.
From Salon • Feb. 11, 2026
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has called cap circumvention “a cardinal sin.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025
I will stake my existence that she never stooped to any fraudulent circumvention of my poor uncle.
From The Evil Eye; Or, The Black Spector The Works of William Carleton, Volume One by Carleton, William
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
