circuitous

adjective

cir·​cu·​i·​tous (ˌ)sər-ˈkyü-ə-təs 

1

: having a circular or winding course

a circuitous route

a circuitous journey by snowmobile

2

: not being forthright or direct in language or action

a circuitous explanation

His circuitous form of logic was mind-boggling.

circuitously adverb

circuitousness noun

Did you know?

If you guessed that circuitous is related to circuit, you're right—both words come from Latin circuitus, the past participle of the verb circumire, meaning "to go around." Circumire is derived, in turn, from Latin circum, meaning "around," plus ire, which means "to go." Other circum descendants making the rounds in English include circumference ("the perimeter of a circle"), circumvent (one meaning of which is "to make a circuit around"), circumlocution ("the act of 'talking around' a subject"), and circumnavigate ("to go around"). There's also the prefix circum-, which means "around" or "about," and the familiar word circumstance, which describes a condition or event that "stands around" another.

Synonyms

• circular
• indirect
• roundabout

Examples of circuitous in a Sentence

Their logic seems a bit circuitous.

we took a circuitous route to the airport so as to avoid the massive traffic jam on the highway

Recent Examples on the Web

His trip there was slightly circuitous, involving two planes and a stop in London. —Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024

In 2002, Iran’s clandestine nuclear program was exposed, and the United States imposed a progression of sanctions that effectively blocked even this circuitous route. —Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024

But like a pint-sized Ulysses, George never stays in one place for long on his circuitous route home. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

Virgo Rising The next month or two might amount to a bit of a homecoming for you, but finding your way back to baseline might require taking a pretty circuitous route through your family photo albums, childhood memories, and old addresses. —Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Medieval Latin circuitosus, from Latin circuitus — see circuit entry 1

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

circuitous

adjective

cir·​cu·​itous

(ˌ)sər-ˈkyü-ət-əs

1

: not saying what one means in simple and sincere language

2

: having a circular or winding course

a circuitous route

circuitously adverb

circuitousness noun