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
Josh Robbins, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The nightly viewership of the somewhat antiquated TV format can no longer justify the expense — at least, that’s the roundabout reason CBS gave for canceling The Late Show.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
Instead of spending millions and disrupting the local area for years building roundabouts, fill the potholes that tear our cars apart.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
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Adjective
Part of Poole’s Wizards legacy is that his contract, in a slightly roundabout way, helped the Wizards bring Young aboard.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The nightly viewership of the somewhat antiquated TV format can no longer justify the expense — at least, that’s the roundabout reason CBS gave for canceling The Late Show.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Bonds Ranch improvements The Bonds Ranch project is a six-part project to remove roundabouts, widen lanes and add a bridge or tunnel around the BNSF railroad tracks.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
Instead of spending millions and disrupting the local area for years building roundabouts, fill the potholes that tear our cars apart.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 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 21 Mar. 2026.
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