avoidance

noun

avoid·​ance ə-ˈvȯi-dᵊn(t)s 

1

obsolete

a

: an action of emptying, vacating, or clearing away

b

: outlet

2

: annulment sense 1

3

: an act or practice of avoiding or withdrawing from something

Synonyms

• cop-out
• dodging
• ducking
• eluding
• elusion
• escape
• eschewal
• eschewing
• evasion
• out
• shaking
• shunning

Examples of avoidance in a Sentence

a writer known for avoidance of sentimentality

a complete avoidance of sentimentality

Recent Examples on the Web

Delaying a medical appointment is a common response to feeling stressed about what’s going on with your body, according to a 2021 study on health care avoidance. —Katie Way, SELF, 9 Apr. 2024

David has imbued Larry with so much guilt, exceptionalism, cluelessness, terror, cowardice, innocence, avoidance, vindictive zeal, genuine curiosity and joie de vivre that the performance becomes what Larry loves: a buffet. —Wesley Morris Ron Butler Emma Kehlbeck Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024

For instance, carbon reduction or avoidance offsets through clean cooking programs are instrumental in reducing emissions and bringing co-benefits of better health and incomes to some of the poorest parts of the world. —Simi Thambi​, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

These can be good options for people whose symptoms are not controlled by pills or allergy avoidance alone, and for people who have especially severe allergic reactions. —Katia Hetter, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024

The lander will then use lidar—light detection and ranging—and optical cameras to guide it through a coarse hazard avoidance phase and, starting at around 100 meters altitude, a hovering, fine hazard avoidance phase to a safe landing spot. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 Mar. 2024

Debt repayment or avoidance should always be your number one priority, Rossman said. —Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024

That opportunity cost can be voter confusion — or, in my case, angst and avoidance. —Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024

The lidar navigation system with AI object avoidance and room mapping keeps it on task, too. —Quentyn Kennemer, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

avoidance

noun

avoid·​ance ə-ˈvȯid-ᵊn(t)s 

: the act or an instance of avoiding something

Medical Definition

avoidance

noun

avoid·​ance ə-ˈvȯid-ᵊn(t)s 

often attributive

: the act or practice of keeping away from or withdrawing from something undesirable

reinforced by escape or avoidance of electric shock

—E. S. Katkin & E. N. Murray

avoidance learning

especially : an anticipatory response undertaken to avoid a noxious stimulus

conditioned avoidance in mice