round·about
ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t 
: circuitous, indirect
had to take a roundabout route
roundaboutness
noun
1
: a circuitous route : detour
2
British
: merry-go-round
3
: a short close-fitting jacket worn by men and boys especially in the 19th century
4
Examples of roundabout in a Sentence
Adjective
He took a roundabout route to town.
In a roundabout way, he told me that my help was not wanted.
Recent Examples on the Web
Grace Raynor, New York Times, 25 July 2025
Texas is one of the states that sued General Motors last year for seeking driver data in a less roundabout fashion.
—Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 14 Jan. 2025
Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
The city announced in an April news release that improvements to Goblin Drive were underway, saying the work included sidewalks, curbs and gutters, drainage improvements, roadway rebuilding and roundabout construction.
—arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
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Adjective
With Duckworth, in a roundabout way, the original uncertainty probably gives South Carolina more clarity than most heading into December.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 25 July 2025
Texas is one of the states that sued General Motors last year for seeking driver data in a less roundabout fashion.
—Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
The Indiana Department of Transportation would be the main funding source and overseer of a roundabout project.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
The city announced in an April news release that improvements to Goblin Drive were underway, saying the work included sidewalks, curbs and gutters, drainage improvements, roadway rebuilding and roundabout construction.
—arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
Cite this Entry
“Roundabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roundabout. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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