: a plan or method to circumvent a problem (as in computer software) without eliminating it

Examples of work-around in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Danielle had discovered a work-around and wanted to share it with Miranda. David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024 Currently, Tennessee Oncology’s pharmacy has devised a complicated work-around to comply with the Stark regulation by sending daily shipments of drug to the 36 various clinic sites around the state. Samyukta Mullangi, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024 The uncrewed robot spacecraft reached the lunar surface on Thursday after a nail-biting final approach and descent in which a problem surfaced with the lander’s navigation system, requiring engineers on the ground to employ an untested work-around at the 11th hour. Reuters, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2024 Miller Lite has figured out a work-around to Dry January. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 In years past, parents without Social Security numbers were able to fill out their portions of the FAFSA by using a work-around. Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2024 One potential work-around is for families in this situation to file the paper version of the FAFSA, bypassing the computer glitch. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024 Competing globally required innovative financing like sukuk, which provided special religious work-arounds in order to pass Islamic sharia law that forbids providing capital in exchange for interest, one of the core incentives for taking financial risk. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023 The arrangement was a highly unusual work-around; by law, members of Ways and Means cannot share citizens’ tax information with anyone outside the committee. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'work-around.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of work-around was in 1961

Dictionary Entries Near work-around

Cite this Entry

“Work-around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work-around. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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