1
: a passage to one side
especially
: a deflected route usually around a town
2
a
: a channel carrying a fluid around a part and back to the main stream
b(1)
(2)
: shunt sense 1c
also
: a surgical procedure for the establishment of a shunt
have a coronary bypass
bypassed; bypassing; bypasses
1
a
: to avoid by means of a bypass
bypass a congested area
b
: to cause to follow a bypass
2
a
: to neglect or ignore usually intentionally
b
: circumvent
attempting to bypass the law
Examples of bypass in a Sentence
Noun
The bridge is being rebuilt so we'll have to take the bypass.
Verb
To bypass the city, take the highway that circles it.
Is there a way to bypass the bridge construction?
He bypassed the manager and talked directly to the owner.
She managed to bypass the usual paperwork.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Adversaries could use the system to generate malicious code or bypass safeguards, or find ways to manipulate outputs to generate harmful outputs.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 19 Sep. 2025
Israeli fighter jets launched ballistic missiles from the Red Sea to strike Hamas leaders in Qatar on September 9, in a move that bypassed regional air defenses and avoided crossing into Middle Eastern airspace.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bypass
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Noun
Underwood has muscular dystrophy and has endured three heart attacks and a quadruple bypass.
—Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Adversaries could use the system to generate malicious code or bypass safeguards, or find ways to manipulate outputs to generate harmful outputs.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
By turning a blind eye to scalpers, even giving them the tools to bypass limits and harvest tickets, Live Nation has acted as the promoter, the primary ticket seller, the artists’ manager, and the scalper.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 19 Sep. 2025
Israeli fighter jets launched ballistic missiles from the Red Sea to strike Hamas leaders in Qatar on September 9, in a move that bypassed regional air defenses and avoided crossing into Middle Eastern airspace.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bypass
Cite this Entry
“Bypass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bypass. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bypass
1 of 2 noun
by·pass
ˈbī-ˌpas 
: a passage to one side or around a blocked or very crowded area
bypass
2 of 2 verb
: to make a detour around
bypass a city
Medical Definition
bypass
noun
by·pass
ˈbī-ˌpas
: a surgically established shunt
cardiopulmonary bypass of blood from the right atrium to the aorta
also
: a surgical procedure for the establishment of a shunt
Note: When a bypass is performed on more than one coronary artery or branch, the number of times (double, triple, etc.) is often specified.
I was immediately scheduled for a triple bypass, but they decided to try an angioplasty. —Terry Todd, Sports Illustrated
see coronary artery bypass, gastric bypass, jejunoileal bypass
Terry Todd, Sports Illustrated
bypass
transitive verb
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