digression

American  

[dih-gresh-uhn, dahy-] / dɪˈgrɛʃ ən, daɪ- /

noun

1. the act of digressing.

   Synonyms:

   divergence, deviation

2. a passage or section that deviates from the central theme in speech or writing.

   Synonyms:

   divergence, deviation

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digression British  

/ daɪˈɡrɛʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of digressing from a main subject in speech or writing

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Other Word Forms

• digressional adjective
• digressionary adjective

Etymology

Origin of digression

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin dīgressiōn-, stem of dīgressiō “departure,” from dīgress(us) “departed” (past participle of dīgredī “to go off, depart”; digress ) + -iō -ion

Explanation

When your essay about French cooking starts describing a childhood trip to Disneyland, it's taken a digression — it's strayed from the main topic. "But I digress" is a phrase often used by people when they realize they're no longer "on-topic." A digression is like a tangent, only digression often describes speech patterns, whereas tangent comes to us from mathematics. Another trick to remembering the meaning of digression is its relationship to the word progression. A progression is a series of ideas which proceeds in the same direction; a digression, logically enough, is an idea that goes off in another direction.

Example Sentences

Now, a brief digression, because I feel strongly about this.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2026

The settings—generic spaces such as cafés, train stations, hotel lobbies, and offices—tend to be described with similar brevity, while the detectives’ actions are recounted in prose generally lacking metaphor, simile, or fanciful digression.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

But the book’s circuitous, meandering structure, including a major digression about one of Siegfried’s sisters, tests the reader’s patience.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2025

In the telescope’s view, there’s something more subtle but no less staggering lurking, too, which can best be introduced via a slight sky-watching digression.

From Scientific American • Oct. 20, 2023

He showed up as promised, and delivered his panegyric—but in the course of it, he included a decorative digression, as might have been quite normal practice, in praise of the twin demigods Castor and Pollux.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Related Words

• detour
• footnote