diversionary

adjective

di·​ver·​sion·​ary də-ˈvər-zhə-ˌner-ē 

dī-,

-shə-

: tending to draw attention away from the principal concern : being a diversion

Examples of diversionary in a Sentence

This is nothing more than a diversionary tactic to distract attention from the issues.

Recent Examples on the Web

Reyes, 47, who was charged with menacing and assault after that attack, pleaded guilty in that case in August — entering a diversionary program, according to a law enforcement source. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025

Other see a diversionary tactic or simple attention-trolling, as other stories including ‘Signalgate’ and a stumbling stock market afflict Trump. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025

City officials noted that a second female student was previously referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, based on her involvement in the incident. —Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2025

As a result, the school resource officer referred her to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, police said. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

diversion + -ary entry 2

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for diversionary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary