evasion

noun

eva·​sion i-ˈvā-zhən 

ē-

1

: a means of evading : dodge

Bankruptcy becomes a kind of evasion when firms, some of them still profitable, attempt to avoid obligations that are merely inconvenient.

—Mary Graham

2

: the act or an instance of evading : escape

suspected of tax evasion

Synonyms of evasion

• escape
• avoidance

Examples of evasion in a Sentence

He was arrested for tax evasion.

They came up with an evasion of the law to keep all the land for themselves.

His reply was nothing but careful evasions.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1931, Capone was famously convicted on tax evasion charges and sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, according to the FBI. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 6 Jan. 2026

Noel is currently serving a 15-year sentence for several felony charges, including corrupt business influence, theft, tax evasion and official misconduct. —Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Jan. 2026

What's more, in subclade K, these immune-evasion tweaks appear to be balanced by other changes that help the virus remain stable and transmissible. —New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2026

That internal investment is telling, Bini believes, as these groups will be laser focused on stopping tariff evasion—schemes that could come in the form of transshipment, misclassification, undervaluation or country-of-origin fraud. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin evasion-, evasio, from Latin evadere to evade

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for evasion

• abrasion
• caucasian
• equation
• eurasian
• invasion
• occasion
• persuasion
• asian
• suasion
• athanasian

Kids Definition

evasion

noun

eva·​sion i-ˈvā-zhən 

1

: a means of evading

2

: the act or an instance of evading : escape

tax evasion

Legal Definition

evasion

noun

eva·​sion i-ˈvā-zhən 

1

: a means of evading

2

: the act or an instance of evading see also tax evasion