circumvent

[ sur-kuhm-vent, sur-kuhm-vent ]
/ ˌsɜr kəmˈvɛnt, ˈsɜr kəmˌvɛnt /

verb (used with object)

to go around or bypass: to circumvent the lake; to circumvent the real issues.
to avoid (defeat, failure, unpleasantness, etc.) by artfulness or deception; avoid by anticipating or outwitting: He circumvented capture by anticipating their movements.
to surround or encompass, as by stratagem; entrap: to circumvent a body of enemy troops.

Origin of circumvent

1545–55; < Latin circumventus (past participle of circumvenīre to come around, surround, oppress, defraud), equivalent to circum- circum- + ven(īre) to come + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM circumvent

cir·cum·vent·er, cir·cum·ven·tor, noun cir·cum·ven·tion, noun cir·cum·ven·tive, adjective un·cir·cum·vent·ed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for circumvent

British Dictionary definitions for circumvent

circumvent
/ (ˌsɜːkəmˈvɛnt) /

verb (tr)

to evade or go around
to outwit
to encircle (an enemy) so as to intercept or capture

Derived forms of circumvent

circumventer or circumventor, noun circumvention, noun circumventive, adjective

Word Origin for circumvent

C15: from Latin circumvenīre, from circum- + venīre to come