circuitous
adjective
Did you know?
If you guessed that circuitous is related to circuit, you're right—both words come from Latin circuitus, the past participle of the verb circumire, meaning "to go around." Circumire is derived, in turn, from Latin circum, meaning "around," plus ire, which means "to go." Other circum descendants making the rounds in English include circumference ("the perimeter of a circle"), circumvent (one meaning of which is "to make a circuit around"), circumlocution ("the act of 'talking around' a subject"), and circumnavigate ("to go around"). There's also the prefix circum-, which means "around" or "about," and the familiar word circumstance, which describes a condition or event that "stands around" another.
Examples of circuitous in a Sentence
Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2024
The results of that sampling would arrive after a delayed and circuitous route — it was posted on a public server briefly and then later published — into the hands of Western scientists.
—Gabriel Spitzer, NPR, 19 Sep. 2024
Inspired by the legendary charm and elegance of such European capitals as Seville and Venice, Merrick stipulated the inclusion of circuitous byways, landscaped medians and luxuriant frondescence.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
Aubrey played professional soccer with Toronto FC before joining the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions for two seasons on his circuitous route to the NFL.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for circuitous 
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Cite this Entry
“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circuitous. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
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