evasion

From Middle French évasion, from Late Latin evasionem (accusative of evasio).

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈveɪʒən/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʒən
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

evasion (countable and uncountable, plural evasions)

1. The act of eluding or evading or avoiding, particularly the pressure of an argument, accusation, charge, or interrogation; artful means of eluding.
   • 2011, Christine Chism, Alliterative Revivals, page 99:

     In these hunting scenes, as many critics have noted, the reversals, negotiations, lurkings, and evasions between hunter and prey mirror and frame the bedroom strategies of the Lady and Gawain.

   • 2020 January 2, Barry Doe, “ScotRail suspending seat reservations is hardly a "recipe for disaster"”, in Rail, page 62:

     He complained to LNER but was told: "We have had an increase in fare evasion on certain services which has led to our locking toilet facilities where (people) usually hide to avoid payment. Although Aberdeen is a gated station, customers often purchase the cheapest ticket available and board our services."

   Synonyms: equivocation, prevarication, shift, subterfuge, shuffling

• evasion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913