diversion

noun di·ver·sion \ də-ˈvər-zhən , dī- , -shən \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

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

See diversion defined for English-language learners

See diversion defined for kids

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 of diversion from the Web

Defense attorney Ryan Ginie said at a hearing Wednesday in Johnson County District Court that Pierre-Louis is applying for the diversion program with the Johnson County District Attorney's Office.

— tony rizzo, kansascity, "Former Chiefs linebacker seeking diversion in marijuana possession case | The Kansas City Star," 4 Apr. 2018
However, Lawson is taking donations from people in a pretrial diversion program and giving it to Gamble and her family, who are now living in hotels or with family.

— steve burns, ajc, "Family gets donation after father died in house fire," 3 Apr. 2018
At the peak of this year's opening, 183 of the river diversion structure's 350 bays were opened.

— littice bacon-blood, NOLA.com, "All Bonnet Carre Spillway bays will close Friday, Mississippi River still 'elevated'," 30 Mar. 2018
This pattern of diversion has steadily increased since Mr. Trump took office.

— linda qiu, New York Times, "How Trump Has Split With His Administration on Russian Meddling," 16 Mar. 2018
The hearing is part of the agency's regulatory oversight of the diversion, which would provide water service to areas of the Village of Mount Pleasant outside the Great Lakes basin and in the Mississippi River basin.

— lee bergquist, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "DNR to hold public hearing on Racine's bid to use Lake Michigan water for Foxconn project," 31 Jan. 2018
Debris basins or diversion structures can be built to reduce damage, but these are expensive and often do not have sufficient capacity for extreme post-fire storm events.

— lee macdonald, Washington Post, "Those deadly mudslides you’ve read about? Expect worse in the future.," 20 Jan. 2018
The weapon charge was dismissed in 2015 after Phan completed an alternative diversion prosecution program.

— Washington Post, "Man charged with shipping explosives to military sites," 27 Mar. 2018
The weapon charge was dismissed in 2015 after Phan completed an alternative diversion prosecution program.

— Time, "Man Charged After Sending Black Powder and Nonsensical Notes to Military Installations, FBI Says," 27 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of diversion

see diverse

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1600

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

diversion Synonyms

DIVERSION Defined for English Language Learners

diversion

noun

Definition of diversion for English Language Learners

: the act of changing the direction or use of something : the act of diverting something
: something that people do because it is enjoyable, entertaining, or pleasant
: something that takes attention away from what is happening

DIVERSION Defined for Kids

diversion

noun di·ver·sion \ də-ˈvər-zhən , dī- \

Definition of diversion for Students

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.

Law Dictionary

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

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