dodgery

noun

dodg·​ery ˈdä-jə-rē How to pronounce dodgery (audio)
plural dodgeries

Did you know?

In "dodgery" one can see the verb dodge, meaning "to evade by a sudden or repeated shift of position." That verb entered English in the 17th century, but the noun form of "dodge," referring to the act of evading something by such a motion, is over a hundred years older. "Dodgery" entered English around the same time. You can dodge things physically - as in getting out of the way of the ball in the popular schoolyard game - or figuratively, as in shirking one's responsibilities, often by some kind of deceitful action. From there the use of "dodgery" to mean "evasion" or "trickery" is hardly an elusive connection.

Word History

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dodgery was in 1670

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Dictionary Entries Near dodgery

Cite this Entry

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

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