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

In 1992, he was indicted on charges of tax evasion and mail fraud following a three-year FBI corruption investigation. —Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026

Federal prosecutors said his principal business Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control was a front for criminal activity, including extortion, fraud, tax evasion and drug trafficking. —Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

Rivera was eventually indicted for acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Caracas, as well as on conspiracy, money laundering, and tax evasion charges. —Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026

He was medically cleared at a hospital and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on felony and misdemeanor charges, including felony evasion of a police officer while driving in a reckless manner. —Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 8 Mar. 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