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

Fare evasion could result in a $50 citation and a Class 3 misdemeanor charge, according to CATS spokesperson Brett Baldeck. —Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025

That may sound like a small thing, but fare evasion is linked to crime on public transit. —Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 11 Sep. 2025

Savannah, who led the charge to obtain pardons for her parents after they were sentenced to federal prison in 2022 on bank fraud and tax evasion charges, learned that her parents would be released less than 24 hours before it was set to happen. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025

The payment of the 183 million euros closes all investigations into evasion of taxes on an estate estimated by the Italian authorities to be worth around 800 million euros. —CNN Money, 9 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