diversion

UK: /daɪˈvɜː^rʃ^ən/

US: /dɪˈvɝʒən, daɪ-/

US: (di vûr′zhən, -shən, dī-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

di•ver•sion /dɪˈvɜrʒən, daɪ-/   n. 

1. the act of diverting:
   [countable] a diversion of industry into the war effort.
   [uncountable] urging diversion of resources toward the poor and middle classes.
2. [countable]
   • a distraction away from business, care, or what one is paying attention to:
     I took advantage of the diversion to scribble a note.
   • a recreation or pastime:
     His only diversion these days is golf.
3. Military [countable] a false attack intended to draw off attention from the point of main attack.
4. Civil Engineering [countable] a channel made to change the flow of water from one course to another.
5. British Terms [countable] a detour on a highway or road.

See -vert-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

di•ver•sion  (di vûr′zhən, -shən, dī-), n. 

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.
3. British Terms 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.

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

diversion / 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. a feint attack designed to draw an enemy away from the main attack

diˈversional, diˈversionary adjective