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diversion

American  
[dih-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn, dahy-] / dɪˈvɜr ʒən, -ʃən, daɪ- /

noun

  1. the act of diverting diverting or turning aside, as from a course or purpose.

    a diversion of industry into the war effort.

  2. a channel made to divert the flow of water from one course to another or to direct the flow of water draining from a piece of ground.

  3. British. a detour on a highway or road.

  4. distraction from business, care, etc.; recreation; amusement; a pastime.

    Movies are his favorite diversion.

  5. Military. a feint intended to draw off attention from the point of main attack.


diversion British  
/ daɪˈvɜːʃən /

noun

  1. the act of diverting from a specified course

  2. an official detour used by traffic when a main route is closed

  3. something that distracts from business, etc; amusement

  4. military a feint attack designed to draw an enemy away from the main attack

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • diversional adjective
  • prediversion noun

Etymology

Origin of diversion

1590–1600; < Medieval Latin dīversiōn- (stem of dīversiō ), equivalent to Latin dīvers ( us ) diverse + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Prior to the pandemic, which gave it a boost—golf was one of the few available diversions during Covid-19—the sport’s popularity was down from its peak when he was dominating.

From The Wall Street Journal

Equities markets will be closed for the Good Friday holiday, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its all-important jobs report Friday, perhaps offering some diversion from Middle East headlines.

From Barron's

Dozens of participants were later charged with misdemeanor offenses related to unlawful assembly and obstruction, with many ultimately placed into diversion programs requiring community service.

From Los Angeles Times

In December, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge granted her diversion due to mental health issues, sparing her potential jail time.

From Los Angeles Times

Direct exposure is limited, with only 5% of container volumes tied to the Middle East, while diversions from Strait of Hormuz disruptions may benefit throughput, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal