diversion

[ dih-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn, dahy- ]
See synonyms for diversion on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the act of 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.

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

  2. distraction from business, care, etc.; recreation; amusement; a pastime: Movies are his favorite diversion.

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

Origin of diversion

1
1590–1600; <Medieval Latin dīversiōn- (stem of dīversiō), equivalent to Latin dīvers(us) diverse + -iōn--ion

Other words from diversion

  • pre·di·ver·sion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for diversion

diversion

/ (daɪˈvɜːʃən) /


noun
  1. the act of diverting from a specified course

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

  1. something that distracts from business, etc; amusement

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

Derived forms of diversion

  • diversional or diversionary, adjective

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