evasion

noun

eva·​sion i-ˈvā-zhən 

ē-

1

: a means of evading : dodge

2

: the act or an instance of evading : escape

suspected of tax evasion

Synonyms

• avoidance
• cop-out
• dodging
• ducking
• eluding
• elusion
• escape
• eschewal
• eschewing
• out
• shaking
• shunning

Examples of evasion in a Sentence

He was arrested for tax evasion.

They came up with an evasion of the law to keep all the land for themselves.

His reply was nothing but careful evasions.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2023, then-IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel noted that, with IRA money, CI closed several cases in which wealthy taxpayers were sentenced for tax evasion, money laundering, and filing false tax returns. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2025

In traditional dictatorships, critics are often charged with crimes such as sedition, treason, or plotting insurrection, but contemporary autocrats tend to prosecute critics for more mundane offenses, such as corruption, tax evasion, defamation, and even minor violations of arcane rules. —Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025

The Political Battle Around the IRS In 2022, Democrats approved $80 billion in funding as part of the Inflation Reduction Act to help the IRS crackdown on tax evasion and collect more revenues. —Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025

Al Pirro was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion charges and sentenced to more than two years in prison in 2000. —Will Weissert, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin evasion-, evasio, from Latin evadere to evade

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

evasion

noun

eva·​sion i-ˈvā-zhən 

1

: a means of evading

2

: the act or an instance of evading : escape

tax evasion

Legal Definition

evasion

noun

eva·​sion i-ˈvā-zhən 

1

: a means of evading

2

: the act or an instance of evading see also tax evasion