round·about
ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t 
: circuitous, indirect
had to take a roundabout route
roundaboutness
noun
1
: a circuitous route : detour
2
British
: merry-go-round
3
: a short close-fitting jacket worn by men and boys especially in the 19th century
4
Examples of roundabout in a Sentence
Adjective
He took a roundabout route to town.
In a roundabout way, he told me that my help was not wanted.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Sheinbaum has been incredibly vague about where her country stood, and this week has given roundabout and ambiguous answers to inquiries about the shipments, and dodged reporters questions in her morning press briefings.
—Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
In the middle of the road at 32nd Street & Cedar Ave, a makeshift roadblock turned the intersection into a roundabout.
—Ubah Ali, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
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Adjective
Police identified the man as a drug dealer in a roundabout way.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Sheinbaum has been incredibly vague about where her country stood, and this week has given roundabout and ambiguous answers to inquiries about the shipments, and dodged reporters questions in her morning press briefings.
—Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
The county project will include three roundabouts along Old Melbourne Highway and its intersections with Botanic Boulevard, Bronco Drive and Sunbridge Parkway.
—Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
In the middle of the road at 32nd Street & Cedar Ave, a makeshift roadblock turned the intersection into a roundabout.
—Ubah Ali, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
Cite this Entry
“Roundabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roundabout. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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