Diversion
noun ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 A tactic used to draw attention away from the real threat or action. countable, uncountable
- 2 a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern) wordnet
- 3 A hobby; an activity that distracts the mind. countable, uncountable
"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 either of play, or business."
- 4 an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates wordnet
- 5 The act of diverting. countable, uncountable
"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 by ordinary jurors, so as to require no explanatory charge."
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- 6 an attack calculated to draw enemy defense away from the point of the principal attack wordnet
- 7 Removal of water via a canal. countable, uncountable
- 8 A detour, such as during road construction. countable, uncountable
"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."
- 9 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. countable, uncountable
- 10 Officially halting or suspending a formal criminal or juvenile justice proceeding and referral of the accused person to a treatment or care program. countable, uncountable
Example
More examples"In the street, vans roared past him; brutality blared out on placards; men were trapped in mines; women burnt alive; and once a maimed file of lunatics being exercised or displayed for the diversion of the populace (who laughed aloud), ambled and nodded and grinned past him, in the Tottenham Court Road, each half apologetically, yet triumphantly, inflicting his hopeless woe."
Etymology
From Middle English diversion, dyversioun, from Medieval Latin diversiō, from Latin divertō (“to divert”); see divert.
Related phrases
More for "diversion"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.