circumvention

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "circumvention" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to an act or process of evading or bypassing something, or going around it. For example, "The president resorted to circumvention in order to bypass the restrictions set by Congress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

According to the story (in German here), it was discovered while she was at a conference - the Circumvention Tech Festival - that was held in Spain to discuss surveillance and censorship.

The Guardian

An even bigger mistake by the DMCA's drafters was to make the definition of circumvention so broad that it could be applied to practically any piece of equipment containing a digital controller whether a car, a washing machine or a combine harvester even when no copyright infringement was involved.

The Economist

The answer, according to Sina Khanifar, an entrepreneur and digital-rights activist who initiated the White House petition, is simply to rewrite DMCA's Section 1201, to tighten the definition of what exactly it is that is illegal to circumvent or whether the circumvention provisions are, indeed, still needed now the job they were designed to do (protect DVDs from piracy) no longer exists.

The Economist

By all accounts, reform of the DMCA's catch-all circumvention fiat is long overdue.

The Economist

Teachers complain that they can now be fired on unreasonable grounds, and they have criticised the circumvention of the legislative process.

The Economist

Yet the rules about circumvention survive to haunt the latest devices.An even bigger mistake by the DMCA's drafters was to define circumvention so broadly that it could be applied to practically anything containing a digital controller a car, a washing machine or a combine harvester.

The Economist

"Americans", Mr Hamburger writes, "must live under a dual system of government, one part established by the Constitution, and another circumventing it".The legality of this circumvention feeds ongoing litigation, but that may be the smaller of two problems with this approach.

The Economist

They have also criticised the circumvention of the legislative process; but Mr Welch has said he felt obliged to use the courts after watching union-backed Democrats repeatedly block reform.

The Economist

He promptly downloaded a free "circumvention" programme that had been developed during his detention.

The Economist

This is to prevent the circumvention of takeover law, such as that requiring a mandatory cash offer once a bidder exceeds a 30% threshold.Altogether nowBetween April 15th and 22nd, the concert party group, in some cases with further loans from BPI, conducted a huge buying operation from pre-arranged sellers and at pre-arranged prices.

The Economist

It can also block access to many circumvention tools, and in December last year it began more intensive disruption of private commercial services, called VPNs, that are widely used to "tunnel" under the firewall.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, use "circumvention" when describing how security measures or technological barriers are bypassed, emphasizing the ingenuity or complexity involved in overcoming these protections.

Common error

Avoid using "circumvention" when "violation" is more appropriate. "Circumvention" implies an indirect avoidance, while "violation" indicates a direct breach of a rule or law. For example, bypassing a security protocol is circumvention; directly hacking into a system is a violation.

Linguistic Context

The noun "circumvention" primarily functions as a subject or object, denoting the act of evading or bypassing something. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples, highlighting its role in describing how rules, laws, or obstacles are avoided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "circumvention" refers to the act of evading or bypassing rules, laws, or obstacles, often without directly violating them. As indicated by Ludwig, the term is grammatically correct and sees frequent use across diverse contexts. While it can have negative connotations when implying unethical or harmful avoidance, it can also be used neutrally to describe finding creative solutions. When writing, remember that "circumvention" differs from "violation" by implying an indirect avoidance rather than a direct breach. The primary contexts where you'll encounter "circumvention" are News & Media and Encyclopedias, reflecting its usage in formal and analytical discussions. Understanding these nuances will allow you to use the term accurately and effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evasion

Focuses on escaping or avoiding something, often with a negative connotation of dishonesty.

avoidance

Highlights the act of keeping away from something, whether intentional or unintentional.

bypassing

Emphasizes going around or ignoring a step or process.

dodging

Implies quick and skillful movements to avoid something, often a responsibility or obligation.

skirting

Suggests narrowly avoiding something, often a difficult issue or problem.

eluding

Highlights the act of escaping detection or capture.

sidestepping

Emphasizes moving to the side to avoid a direct confrontation or obstacle.

outflanking

Suggests a strategic maneuver to gain an advantage by going around an opponent.

getting around

An informal way of saying to overcome a problem or obstacle using different means.

finding a loophole

Refers specifically to exploiting ambiguities or omissions in a law or rule.

FAQs

How is "circumvention" typically used in a sentence?

"Circumvention" is usually employed to describe the act of avoiding or bypassing a rule, law, or obstacle without directly violating it. For example, "The company engaged in tax "avoidance" through legal "loopholes"" demonstrates the usage of "circumvention".

What are some alternatives to "circumvention"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "evasion", ""avoidance"", or "bypassing". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "circumvention" a negative term?

The term "circumvention" can carry a negative connotation, especially when it implies avoiding rules or regulations in a way that is unethical or harmful. However, it can also be neutral when it simply describes finding a way around an obstacle without negative implications.

What's the difference between "circumvention" and "noncompliance"?

"Circumvention" refers to avoiding a rule or law indirectly, often by finding a loophole, whereas "noncompliance" indicates a direct failure to follow a rule or law. "Circumvention" implies a more subtle approach to avoidance than outright "noncompliance".