diversion

noun

di·ver·sion | \ də-ˈvər-zhən

, dī-, -shən\

Definition of diversion

1 : the act or an instance of diverting or straying from a course, activity, or use : deviation Bad weather forced the diversion of several flights.

2 : something that diverts or amuses : pastime Hiking is one of her favorite diversions. a welcome diversion from the pressures of the job

3 : an attack or feint that draws the attention and force of an enemy from the point of the principal operation You create a diversion while I sneak inside the building.

4 British : a temporary traffic detour

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Examples of diversion in a Sentence

small diversions of river water for irrigation Hiking is one of my favorite diversions. Our town offers few diversions. Sports provide him with a welcome diversion from the pressures of his job. He created a diversion while his partner stole her pocketbook.

Recent Examples on the Web

At shorter length, with a less cluttered story, the film might have been a small masterpiece instead of a minor diversion. — Seattle Times Staff, The Seattle Times, "12 movies open April 12 in Seattle; our reviewers weigh in," 12 Apr. 2019 These days, bomba offers a different kind of diversion. — New York Times, "Bomba: The Enduring Anthem of Puerto Rico," 7 July 2018 Some of these new diversions made sense Sunday, while many did not. — Lorraine Ali, latimes.com, "After that wild 'Westworld' finale, the robots aren't the only ones disoriented," 26 June 2018 As there are 190 countries in the world, and the United States trades with most of them, trade wars so far have provided a shovel-ready supply of such diversions. — Mark Weisbrot, The New Republic, "Tariffs Are a Bad Response to an Imaginary Border Crisis," 5 June 2019 Fortunately, Jamie manages to sneak out of the play by causing a diversion, hitches a ride from George Washington (yes, the very one) and gets word to Murtagh via Fergus to call off the heist. — Mehera Bonner, Harper's BAZAAR, "Outlander Just Aired One of Its Most Difficult-to-Watch Episodes," 24 Dec. 2018 King County already had a diversion program for juveniles but the $260 fee placed it out of reach for many eligible but low-income black and brown teens, Satterberg said. — Tyrone Beason, The Seattle Times, "As King County looks to end youth detention, Choose 180 offers a path of ‘restorative justice’," 12 Apr. 2019 But, for older children, scientists have found that there can be actual benefits to these diversions. — Kathleen Dexter M.s.w., miamiherald, "Use playtime to boost your children’s brainpower," 20 Feb. 2018 An American Airlines pilot is being praised online for his sweet gesture after a flight was met with an unexpected diversion. — Fox News, "American Airlines pilot buys Papa John's Pizza for 159 passengers after flight is diverted," 9 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diversion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near diversion

Statistics for diversion

Last Updated

9 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for diversion

The first known use of diversion was in 1600

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More Definitions for diversion

diversion

noun

English Language Learners Definition of diversion

formal : the act of changing the direction or use of something : the act of diverting something

formal : something that people do because it is enjoyable, entertaining, or pleasant

: something that takes attention away from what is happening

See the full definition for diversion in the English Language Learners Dictionary

diversion

noun

di·ver·sion | \ də-ˈvər-zhən

, dī-\

Kids Definition of diversion

1 : an act or instance of changing the direction or use of diversion of the river

2 : something that relaxes, distracts, or entertains The city offers many diversions for visitors.

diversion

noun

di·ver·sion | \ də-ˈvər-zhən, dī-

Legal Definition of diversion

: the act or an instance of diverting: as

a : an unauthorized rerouting or appropriation diversion of funds

b : suspension of the prosecution of a charge for a period of time during which the defendant participates in a rehabilitation program or makes restitution and after which the charges are dismissed if the rehabilitation or restitution is completed — compare probation