circumvent
What does "circumvent" mean?
To circumvent something is to find a clever or indirect way to bypass an obstacle, restriction, or rule. Imagine you are walking toward a high wall; rather than trying to climb over it or smash through it, you walk around the perimeter until you find a path that leads to the other side. It implies a sense of maneuvering around a barrier without necessarily confronting it directly. While this word can describe physical travel, it is most often used in legal, bureaucratic, or technical contexts to describe avoiding rules or limitations. Because it carries a subtle implication of being "tricky" or manipulative, it is generally considered a formal term. You will often hear it used in phrases like "circumvent the law," "circumvent security protocols," or "circumvent a problem."
"circumvent" in conversation
Workplace IT issue
The new firewall is blocking our access to the database.
The new firewall is blocking our access to the database.
I found a proxy server that lets us circumvent the restrictions.
I found a proxy server that lets us circumvent the restrictions.
Used here to describe bypassing a technical restriction.
Discussing a loophole
Is there any way to circumvent the zoning laws for this project?
Is there any way to circumvent the zoning laws for this project?
It would be legally risky, and I wouldn't advise trying to get around those regulations.
It would be legally risky, and I wouldn't advise trying to get around those regulations.
Often used in professional settings when discussing finding loopholes.
"circumvent" in a sentence
We drove through the back streets to circumvent the heavy traffic.
We drove through the back streets to circumvent the heavy traffic.
The company tried to circumvent the new safety regulations by changing their manufacturing process.
The company tried to circumvent the new safety regulations by changing their manufacturing process.
Clever engineers often find ways to circumvent inherent system bottlenecks through innovative software patches.
Clever engineers often find ways to circumvent inherent system bottlenecks through innovative software patches.
