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

Their robust negations appeared to put both them and their American hosts on the right side of history, compared with writers in the unfree world of authoritarian regimes, who seemed to have been permanently tainted by lies, equivocations, and evasions. —Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025

Alcantara has two other arrests for weapons possession and fare evasion, cops said. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025

Last month Emmanuel-Thomas pleaded guilty to the charge of fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of cannabis, between July 1 2024 and September 2, 2024, at Chelmsford Crown Court. —Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 11 July 2025

The only way to stave off that sort of tax evasion would require additional work by the IRS, costing more tax dollars. —Daniel Hungerman, The Conversation, 10 July 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