circuitous

adjective

cir·​cu·​i·​tous (ˌ)sər-ˈkyü-ə-təs 

1

: having a circular or winding course

a circuitous route

a circuitous journey by snowmobile

2

: not being forthright or direct in language or action

a circuitous explanation

His circuitous form of logic was mind-boggling.

circuitously adverb

circuitousness noun

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.

Synonyms

• circular
• indirect
• roundabout

Examples of circuitous in a Sentence

Their logic seems a bit circuitous.

we took a circuitous route to the airport so as to avoid the massive traffic jam on the highway

Recent Examples on the Web

They were given the key by Williams, who, after a circuitous route, admitted to the murders, police said. —Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025

The energy giant also continues to insist Moldova's outstanding debts make supplying the country by other circuitous routes — such as through a Russian-Turkish pipeline that tunnels under the Black Sea — untenable. —Charles Maynes, NPR, 9 Jan. 2025

It’s been a circuitous route, but every step was taken to get me into a job like this. —Beren Cross, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025

Given its circuitous journey, the dress required a little rejuvenation. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Medieval Latin circuitosus, from Latin circuitus — see circuit entry 1

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

circuitous

adjective

cir·​cu·​itous

(ˌ)sər-ˈkyü-ət-əs

1

: not saying what one means in simple and sincere language

2

: having a circular or winding course

a circuitous route

circuitously adverb

circuitousness noun