evasion

noun

eva·​sion i-ˈvā-zhən 

ē-

1

: a means of evading : dodge

2

: the act or an instance of evading : escape

suspected of tax evasion

Synonyms

• avoidance
• cop-out
• dodging
• ducking
• eluding
• elusion
• escape
• eschewal
• eschewing
• out
• shaking
• shunning

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

In the final minutes of his first term as president, Trump issued a pardon to Pirro’s ex-husband, Albert Pirro, who was convicted in 2000 on conspiracy and tax evasion charges. —Michael Kunzelman, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025

Chernow, ever scrupulous, does not ignore the complexities, but his caution becomes its own kind of evasion. —Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025

The president isn’t the only one to single out fare evasion. —David Garten, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025

Which of the following soccer players who met the Pope is the only one to not be accused of tax evasion? —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 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