round·about
ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t 
: circuitous, indirect
had to take a roundabout route
roundaboutness
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
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
Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
The government arrived at that figure in a roundabout manner.
—Avi Asher-Schapiro, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
This is the sort of movie that thinks nothing of dropping in a human-centipede roundabout of bootlicking and the surreal sight of a PR guru’s head turning into a video screen.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
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Adjective
An economic opening would be a roundabout way of getting to the end goal, one close Rubio friend told USA TODAY.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
The government arrived at that figure in a roundabout manner.
—Avi Asher-Schapiro, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
Last week, the city posted on social media about the ongoing work and disruptions beachgoers might notice on the boardwalk and a roundabout on Ventura Place near the lifeguard station.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
This is the sort of movie that thinks nothing of dropping in a human-centipede roundabout of bootlicking and the surreal sight of a PR guru’s head turning into a video screen.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
Cite this Entry
“Roundabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roundabout. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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