detour

[ dee-toor, dih-toor ]

noun

1. a roundabout or circuitous way or course, especially one used temporarily when the main route is closed.
2. an indirect or roundabout procedure, path, etc.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a detour; go by way of a detour.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to make a detour.
2. to make a detour around:

   We detoured Birmingham.

detour

/ ˈdiːtʊə /

noun

1. a deviation from a direct, usually shorter route or course of action

verb

1. to deviate or cause to deviate from a direct route or course of action

Word History and Origins

Origin of detour¹

1730–40 < French détour, Old French destor, derivative of destorner to turn aside, equivalent to des- de- + torner to turn

Word History and Origins

Origin of detour¹

C18: from French détour, from Old French destorner to divert, turn away, from des- de- + torner to turn

Example Sentences

Sure, an IPO is usually regarded as a road to riches, but there’s many a speed bump, detour, and dead-end on that hoped-for path to bundles of cash — especially in the presently buoyant ad tech land.

From Digiday

So Mankiewicz’s decision to target Hearst was shocking, and the explanation for it requires a detour into Mankiewicz’s long and winding biography.

From Vox

She said a detour was set up around the area, but traffic was backed up for about three miles.

From Washington Post

If you’re planning on attending or booking a separate trip, keep these adventure detours in mind.

From Outside Online

In order to see why, we need to take a brief detour through the philosophy of mathematics.

From Singularity Hub 

But this is also a parody of narcissism, just a little detour to eternity.

From The Daily Beast

The ice cream remains reason enough to detour off I-84 for a visit to this mid-20th century gem.

From The Daily Beast

I will detour for a moment because this where I often see interviewers and pundits roll their eyes.

From The Daily Beast

On the way to the West Bank, perhaps you could take a detour to visit some of the African neighborhoods in Tel Aviv.

From The Daily Beast

I knew what I wanted to do, and college just felt like a detour.

From The Daily Beast

Leaving the main road a detour of a few miles enabled us to visit Crowland Abbey shortly before reaching Peterborough.

From Project Gutenberg

Had we known of this at the time, a short detour would have taken us through its quaint streets.

From Project Gutenberg

The much-desired inn soon appeared, but, to the surprise of Gorenflot, Chicot caused him to make a detour and pass round the back.

From Project Gutenberg

Three armed with Winchesters made a long detour and dropped quietly into the sage-brush just beyond accurate pistol-range.

From Project Gutenberg

The enemy opened fire without delay, so the Yeomanry had to make a wide detour.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deviation
• diversion