diversion

English · Français · Thesaurus

AI In plain words

Writing a short explanation…

Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

diversion

  • /daɪˈvɜː.ʃən/ UK
  • /daɪˈvɜː.ʒən/ UK
  • /dɪˈvɝ.ʒən/ US
  • /daɪˈvɝ.ʒən/ US

Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)ʒən, -ɜː(ɹ)ʃən

Where it comes from

From Middle English diversion, dyversioun, from Medieval Latin diversiō, from Latin divertō (“to divert”); see divert.

noun diversions

  1. countable, uncountable A tactic used to draw attention away from the real threat or action.
  2. countable, uncountable A hobby; an activity that distracts the mind. Of those therefore that have attained to the highest degree of honour and riches, some have affected mastery in some art; as Nero in music and poetry, Commodus in the art of a gladiator. And such as affect not some such thing, must find diversion and recreation of their thoughts in the contention ei

    Similar: hobby

  3. countable, uncountable The act of diverting. Further, in response to the trust defense raised at trial, the court did properly instruct the jury on partial diversion when it charged that the funds diverted to Moon's personal use became taxable "to the extent so diverted." Obviously, the word "divert" is in common enough use and understandable
  4. countable, uncountable Removal of water via a canal.
  5. countable, uncountable A detour, such as during road construction. An interesting feature in the weeks preceding the diversions was the provision of a road-learning train to familiarise main line drivers with the alternative route.
  6. countable, uncountable The rerouting of cargo or passengers to a new transshipment point or destination, or to a different mode of transportation before arrival at the ultimate destination.
  7. countable, uncountable Officially halting or suspending a formal criminal or juvenile justice proceeding and referral of the accused person to a treatment or care program.

Similar: feint

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: deflexion, deflection, digression, deviation, recreation, diversionary attack, diverted, misdirection, subversion, diversionary, circumvention, misappropriation, detour, evasion, embezzlement, disruption

noun

Similar: feint

Translations

Every language

noun tactic used to draw attention away from the real threat or action

Españoldistracción, diversión, despiste, despistada, destanteada, desorientación
한국어양동 yangdong
日本語陽動 youdou
Portuguêsdiversão
Françaisdiversion
DeutschAblenkung, Ablenkungsmanöver
Italianodiversivo
Ελληνικάαντιπερισπασμός antiperispasmós
Русскийотвлека́ющий манёвр otvlekájuščij manjóvr
עבריתהסחה hasakha

noun hobby; an activity that distracts the mind

DeutschUnterhaltung, Zerstreuung, Ablenkung, Hobby, Zeitvertreib
Italianosvago
Ελληνικάδιασκέδαση diaskédasi, αναψυχή anapsychí
Русскийразвлече́ние razvlečénije

noun removal of water via a canal

DeutschEntwässerung, Wasserableiten, Abführen, Ableiten
Ελληνικάεκτροπή ektropí
Русскийотво́д otvód

noun A detour, such as during road construction

Españoldesviación, desviamiento, desvío
Françaisdéviation
DeutschUmleitung
Ελληνικάπαράκαμψη parákampsi
Русскийобъе́зд obʺjézd

noun rerouting of cargo or passengers to a new transshipment point or destination

DeutschUmleitung
Русскийобъе́зд obʺjézd

Talk about this word

Cite this
MLA

"diversion." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/diversion. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

diversion. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/diversion

Chicago

"diversion." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/diversion.

BibTeX
@misc{diversion_2026,
  title = {diversion},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/diversion},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}