evasion

noun

eva·​sion i-ˈvā-zhən 

ē-

1

: a means of evading : dodge

2

: the act or an instance of evading : escape

suspected of tax evasion

Synonyms

• 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

Eventually charged with two murders, Pulawa got 15 years for tax evasion in 1973, and he was released in 1984. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025

The other experiments used a tax evasion game that incentivized participants to misreport their earnings to get a bigger payout. —Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2025

Without coordination, rules are weaker, evasion is easier, and law enforcement is harder. —Don Graves, Foreign Affairs, 24 Sep. 2025

She was accused of misrepresenting her personal spending (including $24,380 at beauty salons and nearly $14,000 at Hermès) as business expenses, tallying about $3 million in tax evasion. —Carrie Battan, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025

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