indirect

[ in-duh-rekt, -dahy- ]

/ ˌɪn dəˈrɛkt, -daɪ- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR indirect ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not in a direct course or path; deviating from a straight line; roundabout: an indirect course in sailing.

coming or resulting otherwise than directly or immediately, as effects or consequences: an indirect advantage.

not direct in action or procedure: His methods are indirect but not dishonest.

not straightforward; devious; deceitful: He is known as a shady, indirect fellow.

not direct in bearing, application, force, etc.: indirect evidence.

of, relating to, or characteristic of indirect discourse: an indirect quote.

not descending in a direct line of succession, as a title or inheritance.

Nearby words

indigoid, indigolite, indigotic, indigotin, indio, indirect, indirect address, indirect characterization, indirect cost, indirect costs, indirect discourse

Origin of indirect

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word indīrēctus. See in-³, direct

SYNONYMS FOR indirect

2 incidental, unintentional, secondary.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR indirect ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

in·di·rect·ly, adverbin·di·rect·ness, nounsem·i-in·di·rect, adjectivesem·i-in·di·rect·ly, adverb

sem·i-in·di·rect·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for indirect

Living with the threat of random death raining down leads to a strange way of life, a pathology of indirect fire.
Dodging Rockets in Afghanistan as the Taliban’s Fighting Season Begins|Nick Willard|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead, officials are musing about indirect sources of supply, by and through third countries.
CIA Director’s Trip to Kiev Was a Warning to Putin|Leslie H. Gelb|April 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the new channels tend to be underground, indirect, and unaccountable.
The Answer to the McCutcheon Decision Is More Big Money in Politics|Jonathan Rauch|April 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Saudis don't want an open break with Washington, so their critique is indirect.
Saudi Arabia Blames America for the Turmoil in Egypt|Bruce Riedel|August 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Police arrested Brooks under a little-known Nevada law that prohibits threats, direct or indirect, against a public officer.
The Assemblyman Has a Gun: The Steven Brooks Saga|Jon Ralston|January 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
After attaching the petiole to the recording lever, indirect stimulus is applied, generally speaking, at a distance of 15 mm.
Life Movements in Plants|Sir Jagadis Chunder Bose
This indirect influence of stockwatering toward excessive rates and prices becomes effective in two ways.
Distributive Justice|John A. (John Augustine) Ryan
Give an example from your own experience of a case in which it is hard to distinguish between direct and indirect evidence.
The Making of Arguments|J. H. Gardiner
Those who have studied Latin will find the “indirect discourse” of Cicero a useful model.
Threads of Grey and Gold|Myrtle Reed
Nevertheless, I ventured to approach the subject in an indirect manner.
The Mystery of 31 New Inn|R. Austin Freeman

British Dictionary definitions for indirect

indirect

/ (ˌɪndɪˈrɛkt) /

adjective

deviating from a direct course or line; roundabout; circuitous

not coming as a direct effect or consequence; secondaryindirect benefits

not straightforward, open, or fair; devious or evasivean indirect insult

(of a title or an inheritance) not inherited in an unbroken line of succession from father to son

Derived Forms

indirectly, adverbindirectness, noun

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

indirect

adjective

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of indirect

SYNONYMS FOR indirect

Related forms

Examples from the Web for indirect

British Dictionary definitions for indirect

indirect

adjective

Derived Forms