circumvent

verb

cir·​cum·​vent ˌsər-kəm-ˈvent How to pronounce circumvent (audio)
circumvented; circumventing; circumvents

transitive verb

1
: to manage to get around especially by ingenuity or stratagem
the setup circumvented the red tapeLynne McTaggart
circumvent a problem
2
a
: to hem in
Circumvented by the enemy, he had to surrender.
b
: to make a circuit around
the river circumvented
circumvention noun

Did you know?

The Circular History of Circumvent

If you’ve ever felt as if someone was running circles around those trying to get something done, you have an idea of the origins of circumvent—it comes from the Latin word circumventus, a form of the verb circumvenire, meaning “to surround or go around” (circumvenire combines the adverb circum, “in a circle around,” and the verb venire, “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. This meaning doesn’t exactly square with modern uses of the word. Today, circumvent more often suggests avoidance than entrapment; to come full circle, it typically means to “get around” someone or something, as by evading a problem or avoiding the law.

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 But in undertaking this resource-heavy endeavor, set to require 1,000 troops and two months, at a cost that remains to be tallied, alongside expensive and inefficient aid delivery by airdrops — the United States is not circumventing forbidding geography. Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Yet attempts by the people to organize and circumvent Hamas face steep obstacles – and danger. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 The app’s default settings try to address those concerns, although the settings can be changed or circumvented by determined users. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 In an attempt to circumvent that shortage, Horne is working through the Legislature to allow retired and off-duty officers to work in schools. Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 That’s why bitcoin’s proof of work was designed to rely on cryptographic proof, which mathematically cannot be circumvented without trillions more hours of computing power than anyone could muster. Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The airdrops circumvented an aid delivery system hobbled by Israeli restrictions, logistical issues and fighting in Gaza. Tia Goldenberg, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024 Falling inflation, rising growth give U.S. the world's best recovery For now, Putin can afford to splurge on the armed forces, thanks in part to Russia’s success at circumventing restrictions on its oil sales. David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 Earlier in the film, Adra recounts how his mother devised a plan to circumvent the Israeli Defense Forces’ antagonism. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'circumvent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin circumventus, past participle of circumvenire, from circum- + venire to come — more at come

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of circumvent was in 1539

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Dictionary Entries Near circumvent

Cite this Entry

“Circumvent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumvent. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

circumvent

verb
cir·​cum·​vent ˌsər-kəm-ˈvent How to pronounce circumvent (audio)
1
: to go around : bypass entry 2
2
: to get the better of or avoid the force or effect of by cleverness
circumvented the rules
circumvention noun

More from Merriam-Webster on circumvent

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