diversion
Americannoun
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the act of diverting or turning aside, as from a course or purpose.
a diversion of industry into the war effort.
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a channel made to divert the flow of water from one course to another or to direct the flow of water draining from a piece of ground.
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British. a detour on a highway or road.
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distraction from business, care, etc.; recreation; amusement; a pastime.
Movies are his favorite diversion.
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Military. a feint intended to draw off attention from the point of main attack.
noun
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the act of diverting from a specified course
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an official detour used by traffic when a main route is closed
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something that distracts from business, etc; amusement
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military a feint attack designed to draw an enemy away from the main attack
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of diversion
1590–1600; < Medieval Latin dīversiōn- (stem of dīversiō ), equivalent to Latin dīvers ( us ) diverse + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A diversion can be something that takes you off the course you are on, like a detour while you are traveling, or a game of tennis that takes you away from the stress of work. The noun diversion and the verb divert are related. Both have to do with a change of focus or direction. When you want a break from something, many diversions are welcome, like a rousing game of “twenty questions” on a long car ride. Conversely, some diversions are unwelcome, like when the guy next to you is texting during your French midterm.
Vocabulary lists containing diversion
Unit 1: Telling Details
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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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 initial draft of AB 46 had proposed also excluding attempted murder charges from the diversion program, but this language was later removed during revisions.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026
Davies said other factors included drivers relying on car sat-navs, unsuitable diversion routes and, in some cases, motorists deciding to "take a chance".
From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026
Taiwanese authorities arrested three people and seized 50 servers as part of a collaborative effort to “prevent illicit diversion of server technology,” Super Micro said at the time.
From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026
While they’re known for divinatory diversion today, their genesis is anything but lighthearted and involved serious money, serious games and serious art.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026
Raj will ring the front bell to create a diversion.
From "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer L. Holm
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.
