circumvent

/ˌsɜːrkəmˈvɛnt/ formal

Say it: sur-kum-VENT

1. verb To get around a rule, law, or problem in a clever and sometimes dishonest way.
The company created a complex ownership structure to circumvent tax laws.
2. verb To go around or bypass a physical place or obstacle.
We had to circumvent the flooded road by taking a series of backstreets.
3. verb To outwit or gain an advantage over someone, often through deception or strategy.
The spy's mission was to circumvent his rival and secure the intelligence first.

📖 Seen in the wild

He tried to circumvent the strict rules by finding a loophole.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ circumvent in a sentence

Hackers were able to circumvent the company's firewall and access sensitive data.
She tried to circumvent the bureaucratic process by appealing directly to the director.
The new software is designed to circumvent ad-blocking technology.
To circumvent the supply chain issues, we started sourcing materials from local suppliers.
He would always find a way to circumvent his chores, much to his parents' frustration.
The river was too high to cross, so the explorers had to circumvent the entire valley.
The treaty was written carefully to ensure no country could circumvent its obligations.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

bypass evade sidestep dodge skirt get around outwit thwart

bypass · more neutral, often implying finding an alternative route rather than cleverly breaking rules.

evade · stresses escaping or avoiding something one is obligated to face, like taxes or a question.

sidestep · suggests avoiding an issue directly, often by changing the subject or focus.

dodge · more informal, implying a quick and often physical move to avoid something.

Opposites: confront, face, obey, comply, uphold

🌱 Where it comes from

The word comes to English from Latin, combining 'circum' (meaning 'around') and 'venire' (meaning 'to come'). Its original meaning was quite literal, 'to come around' or 'to encircle'. Over time, this evolved into the modern figurative sense of finding a way around an obstacle or rule.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

circumvent the lawcircumvent the rulescircumvent security measurescircumvent a problemattempt to circumvent

Circumvent is a formal word that often carries a negative connotation of outsmarting a system that should be respected. Using it implies that the obstacle, such as a law or safety protocol, was legitimate. While you can circumvent a problem, which is neutral, circumventing rules is almost always viewed critically. It is a stronger and more deliberate term than its more casual synonym, 'get around'.

Word family: circumvention

💬 Quick answers

What does circumvent mean in simple terms?

It means to find a clever way around a rule, problem, or obstacle, instead of dealing with it directly.

What is the difference between circumvent and bypass?

Circumvent often implies cleverness or even dishonesty in getting around a system or rule. Bypass is more neutral and can simply mean taking an alternate route, physically or figuratively.

Does circumvent have a negative connotation?

Often, yes. It can suggest that someone is avoiding something they should be obeying, like a law or a safety measure. However, it can be neutral when referring to cleverly solving a technical problem.

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