bypass

1 of 2

noun

by·​pass ˈbī-ˌpas 

1

: a passage to one side

especially : a deflected route usually around a town

2

a

: a channel carrying a fluid around a part and back to the main stream

b(1)

: shunt sense 1b

(2)

: shunt sense 1c

also : a surgical procedure for the establishment of a shunt

have a coronary bypass

bypass

2 of 2

verb

bypassed; bypassing; bypasses

transitive verb

1

a

: to avoid by means of a bypass

bypass a congested area

b

: to cause to follow a bypass

2

a

: to neglect or ignore usually intentionally

b

: circumvent

attempting to bypass the law

Synonyms

Verb

• circumnavigate
• circumvent
• detour
• skirt

Examples of bypass in a Sentence

Noun

The bridge is being rebuilt so we'll have to take the bypass.

Verb

To bypass the city, take the highway that circles it.

Is there a way to bypass the bridge construction?

He bypassed the manager and talked directly to the owner.

She managed to bypass the usual paperwork.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The actor has undergone a quadruple heart bypass and has diabetes, according to his lawyer. —John Leicester, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025

This unwanted disclosure breached the privacy that judicial bypass is meant to protect. —Kate Coleman-Minahan, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025

Verb

The major criticism was that the policy fails to go far enough or establish clear barriers to protect women's athletes in the college ranks and that the policy allegedly allows trans athletes to bypass the restriction by changing the gender on their birth certificate. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, the deal allowed Ukraine to export grain by sea, with ships bypassing a Russian blockade of the country’s Black Sea ports and navigating safe passage through the waterway to Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait in order to reach global markets. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bypass

• coronary artery bypass
• coronary artery bypass graft
• coronary artery bypass grafting
• coronary bypass
• coronary bypass graft
• coronary bypass grafting
• gastric bypass

Rhymes for bypass

• alas
• amass
• bromegrass
• chagas
• crabgrass
• crevasse
• eelgrass
• eyeglass
• groundmass
• harass
• impasse
• jackass

Kids Definition

bypass

1 of 2 noun

by·​pass ˈbī-ˌpas 

: a passage to one side or around a blocked or very crowded area

bypass

2 of 2 verb

: to make a detour around

bypass a city

Medical Definition

bypass

noun

by·​pass ˈbī-ˌpas 

: a surgically established shunt

cardiopulmonary bypass of blood from the right atrium to the aorta

also : a surgical procedure for the establishment of a shunt

Note: When a bypass is performed on more than one coronary artery or branch, the number of times (double, triple, etc.) is often specified.

I was immediately scheduled for a triple bypass, but they decided to try an angioplasty.

—Terry Todd, Sports Illustrated

see coronary artery bypass, gastric bypass, jejunoileal bypass

bypass transitive verb