evasion

noun

eva·​sion i-ˈvā-zhən 

ē-

1

: a means of evading : dodge

Bankruptcy becomes a kind of evasion when firms, some of them still profitable, attempt to avoid obligations that are merely inconvenient.

—Mary Graham

2

: the act or an instance of evading : escape

suspected of tax evasion

Synonyms of evasion

• 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

Chrisley evolved from teenaged reality TV heiress to one of the most recognizable conservative voices of her generation after her parents were imprisoned on fraud and tax evasion charges in 2023. —Jay Stahl, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026

The capital Rome has the highest rate of garbage tax evasion, according to the authorities, followed by Naples. —Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026

Her assertion comes after Trump granted a pardon for her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022 and sentenced to 19 years in prison. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026

The secretive side of Goldstein's life has been the focus of a six-week trial in Maryland for a tax-evasion case against the SCOTUSblog co-founder. —ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026

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