cir ‧ cum ‧ vent /ˌsɜːkəmˈvent $ ˌsɜːr-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive] formal
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of circumvenire 'to come around' , from circum- ( CIRCUM- ) + venire 'to come' ]
1 . to avoid a problem or rule that restricts you, especially in a clever or dishonest way – used to show disapproval:
The company opened an account abroad, in order to circumvent the tax laws.
2 . to avoid something by changing the direction in which you are travelling:
We went north in order to circumvent the mountains.
—circumvention /-ˈvenʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable]