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

Noel's wife, Misty Noel, was sentenced in July to 18 months in prison and six years probation on multiple theft and tax evasion charges. —Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Sep. 2025

Congress and the Commerce Department should execute oversight and enforcement accordingly to monitor for tariff evasion and circumvention. —Joel Thayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025

The conviction was overturned in 1996, but a federal tax-evasion case the following year resulted in a 20-month stint in a California prison. —Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025

In 2024, the transit system lost $4 million in revenue to fare evasion. —Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 16 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