roundabout

1 of 2

adjective

round·​about ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t 

: circuitous, indirect

had to take a roundabout route

roundaboutness noun

roundabout

2 of 2

noun

1

: a circuitous route : detour

2

British : merry-go-round

3

: a short close-fitting jacket worn by men and boys especially in the 19th century

4

: rotary sense 2

Synonyms

Adjective

• indirect
• circular
• twisting
• winding

Examples of roundabout in a Sentence

Adjective

He took a roundabout route to town.

In a roundabout way, he told me that my help was not wanted.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In 2020, the Supreme Court — in a roundabout way — ended the confusion by refusing to consider an appellate ruling that validated special taxes proposed by initiative and approved by simple majorities. —Dan Walters, Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2025

Multiverse’s founders came to AI in a roundabout way. —Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025

Noun

Students can play in the traffic garden during recess or in gym class, to have fun but also learn to ride bikes safely or skate safely around intersections and roundabouts. —Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025

The Ocean Beach Planning Board took the first of 17 steps required to install artwork on OB’s sole roundabout at the intersection of Bacon Street and West Point Loma Boulevard. —Steven Mihailovich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1608, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1734, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for roundabout

• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout

Kids Definition

roundabout

adjective

round·​about

ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t

: not direct

went a roundabout way