circumvention: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal; common in legal, technical, and business contexts.
Quick answer
What does “circumvention” mean?
the action of finding a way around an obstacle, rule, or restriction, often in a clever or deceptive way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
the action of finding a way around an obstacle, rule, or restriction, often in a clever or deceptive way.
It extends to bypassing legal, technological, or systematic barriers, implying a deliberate, often systematic, effort to avoid something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard BrE/AmE conventions.
Connotations
Slightly more common in legal discourse in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, with a slight edge in AmE due to prevalent legal and tech discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “circumvention” in a Sentence
circumvention of [rule/law/security]circumvention by [means/method]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “circumvention” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company was accused of circumventing UK tax laws.
- He circumvented the firewall by using a VPN.
American English
- The scheme was designed to circumvent state regulations.
- They circumvented the security system using a zero-day exploit.
adverb
British English
- The law was circumventively exploited. (Rare)
- He acted circumventingly. (Very Rare)
American English
- They designed the software circumventionally. (Rare/Virtually unused)
- The contract was circumventively interpreted. (Rare)
adjective
British English
- The circumvention techniques were highly sophisticated.
- Circumvention devices are illegal under UK law.
American English
- They used circumvention software to access the content.
- A circumvention strategy was outlined in the memo.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referring to tax avoidance strategies or bypassing market regulations.
Academic
Discussing historical or legal strategies to bypass institutional barriers.
Everyday
Rare. Used humorously to describe cleverly avoiding household rules or chores.
Technical
Describing methods to bypass software DRM or network security.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “circumvention”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “circumvention”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “circumvention”
- Incorrect: 'circumvention about the rule'. Correct: 'circumvention of the rule'.
- Incorrect: 'He made a circumvention'. Correct: 'He used circumvention' or 'He achieved circumvention'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While often negative (e.g., circumventing laws), it can be neutral or positive in technical contexts, like circumventing a software bug to make a program work.
'Circumvent' implies a deliberate, often clever, plan to get around a specific obstacle or rule. 'Avoid' is more general and can mean simply staying away from something.
It is primarily abstract, referring to bypassing rules or systems. While you can 'circumvent' a physical obstacle metaphorically, the noun 'circumvention' is rarely used for purely physical detours.
Yes, it is formal and most common in legal, technical, and business writing. In casual speech, phrases like 'getting around' or 'finding a loophole' are more common.
the action of finding a way around an obstacle, rule, or restriction, often in a clever or deceptive way.
Circumvention: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɜːkəmˈvenʃn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɝːkəmˈvenʃn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A loophole, not a bypass.”
- “Finding a way around the rules.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'circumference' — going around the edge of something. 'Circumvention' is going around a rule.
Conceptual Metaphor
BARRIERS ARE CONTAINERS; CIRCUMVENTION IS MOVING AROUND THE EDGE.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is closest in meaning to 'circumvention'?