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

Each of the four is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years on the exports evasion, 10 years on the smuggling charges, and 20 years on each count of money laundering. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2025

The notebooks were filled with evasions, contradictions, abstractions, abrupt tense shifts, and unattributed dialogue. —Alice Gregory, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025

Jamey Noel was sentenced to 15 years in prison October 2024 in relation to numerous felony charges, including corrupt business influence, theft, tax evasion and official misconduct. —Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Nov. 2025

After the 1994 season, he was charged with tax evasion. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 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