circumvent

verb

cir·cum·vent | \ ˌsər-kəm-ˈvent

circumvented; circumventing; circumvents

Definition of circumvent

1 : to manage to get around especially by ingenuity or stratagem the setup circumvented the red tape— Lynne McTaggart circumvent a problem

2a : to hem in Circumvented by the enemy, he had to surrender.

b : to make a circuit around the river circumvented

Other Words from circumvent Synonyms & Antonyms The Circular History of Circumvent More Example Sentences Learn More about circumvent

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The Circular History of Circumvent

If you’ve ever felt as if someone were circling around the rules, you have an idea of the origins of "circumvent" - it derives from the Latin circum, meaning "circle," and "ventus," the past participle of the Latin verb venire, meaning "to come." The earliest uses of "circumvent" referred to a tactic of hunting or warfare in which the quarry or enemy was encircled and captured. Today, however, "circumvent" more often suggests avoidance than entrapment; it typically means to "get around" someone or something, as in our example sentences.

Examples of circumvent in a Sentence

Los Angeles was the beachhead for the sushi invasion, attracting many Japanese chefs eager to make their fortunes and to circumvent the grueling 10-year apprenticeship required in their homeland. — Jay McInerney, New York Times Book Review, 10 June 2007 … Rondon and Lyra paddled to the right side, where they found a channel that circumvented the worst part of the rapids. — Candice Millard, The River of Doubt, 2005 His appreciation of this finer side of life is circumvented by a cynicism that he tells me is common to Eastern Europeans. — Lynne Tillman, Motion Sickness, 1991 The thirty-six-hour workweek established by the garment-industry code was circumvented by having the workers punch out at five P.M., leave by the back door (their usual entrance), then return by the front door and work until eleven P.M. without punching the clock. — Melissa Hield, Speaking For Ourselves, (1977) 1984 We circumvented the problem by using a different program. He found a way to circumvent the law.

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition, two songs could get different per-spin royalty rates from internet radio services like Pandora and iHeartRadio; both companies have direct licensing agreements with some publishers that circumvent ASCAP and BMI. — Glenn Peoples, Billboard, "How Much Does Song Length Matter for Artists' Revenue?," 28 Aug. 2019 In recent years, companies have become especially adept at circumventing unclaimed property laws, according to Mayrack. — Michael Waters, The Atlantic, "What Happens to All Those Unused Gift Cards," 27 Aug. 2019 But the staff circumvented this by simply making it all up. — Larissa Macfarquhar, The New Yorker, "The Radical Transformations of a Battered Women’s Shelter," 13 Aug. 2019 In July, California circumvented the Trump administration’s efforts to relax tailpipe pollution regulations by reaching a deal with four major automakers to gradually increase fuel-efficiency standards. — Phil Willon, Los Angeles Times, "California sues to stop Trump rollback of Obama-era restrictions on coal-burning power plants," 13 Aug. 2019 In doing so, Trump would circumvent the IRTPA, which states that the principal deputy Director of National Intelligence will fill any vacancy in the top U.S. intelligence post. — Alana Abramson, Time, "Trump Drops Ratcliffe as Pick for Top Intelligence Job," 2 Aug. 2019 Any team that circumvents the salary cap can face franchise-altering sanctions. — Michael Mccann, SI.com, "Understanding Why Salary Cap Circumvention Is Dangerous for the NBA," 25 July 2019 Bipartisan legislation was introduced in the Senate last week that, if passed, would circumvent the Trump administration’s indefinite delay of a proposed rule requiring new trucks to be outfitted with speed limiters. — Richard Lardner, chicagotribune.com, "Trump administration seeks to relax limits on truckers’ drive time," 1 July 2019 Putin has long advocated for a new financial system with China that would circumvent the reach of U.S. sanctions, which also target his country. — Oren Dorell, USA TODAY, "Iran preps 'industrial-scale' nuke production after U.S. leaves nuclear deal," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'circumvent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for circumvent

circumvent

verb

English Language Learners Definition of circumvent

formal : to avoid being stopped by (something, such as a law or rule) : to get around (something) in a clever and sometimes dishonest way

See the full definition for circumvent in the English Language Learners Dictionary

circumvent

verb

cir·cum·vent | \ ˌsər-kəm-ˈvent

circumvented; circumventing

Kids Definition of circumvent

: to avoid the force or effect of by cleverness They tried to circumvent the rules.

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circumvent

Definition of circumvent

Other Words from circumvent

Synonyms & Antonyms for circumvent

The Circular History of Circumvent

Examples of circumvent in a Sentence

First Known Use of circumvent

History and Etymology for circumvent

English Language Learners Definition of circumvent

Kids Definition of circumvent

circumvent

Definition of circumvent

Other Words from circumvent

Synonyms & Antonyms for circumvent

The Circular History of Circumvent

Examples of circumvent in a Sentence

First Known Use of circumvent

History and Etymology for circumvent

English Language Learners Definition of circumvent

Kids Definition of circumvent

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