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

All of it was evasion, an instinctive turning away from direct action on the things that matter. —Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

The president pardoned Strawberry on his tax evasion conviction in November. —Josh Feldman, NBC news, 30 Dec. 2025

Phasing out the $100 and $50 bills would make tax evasion and many criminal enterprises harder to run, increase financial transparency, and impose only modest costs on lawful cash users. —William T. Alpert, Boston Herald, 29 Dec. 2025

Federal prosecutors leveled a dozen charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and wire fraud against him. —Logan Smith, CBS News, 28 Dec. 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