indirect

The word “indirect” means not going straight to a point or goal; roundabout. In plain terms, not straight or direct — could mean a roundabout path, a secondary cause, or an evasive way of speaking.

“Indirect” is pronounced ihn-deye-REHKT (/ˌɪn.dɪˈɹɛkt/ in IPA).

Here is “indirect” used in a sentence: “We took an indirect route to avoid the traffic.”

The opposite of “indirect” — its antonyms — is direct.

“Indirect” is an adjective.

The word “indirect” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin indirectus, "not straight," from in- ("not") + directus ("direct").

“Indirect” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Indirect” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not going straight to a point or goal; roundabout.

Direct means going straight to a point, goal, or person, while indirect means taking a roundabout route or approach. Indirect can also describe something that happens as a secondary effect rather than being caused straight away, such as an indirect consequence of a decision.

Indirect speech, also called reported speech, reports what someone said without quoting their exact words, as in "She said she was tired." Direct speech, by contrast, repeats the exact words inside quotation marks: "She said, 'I am tired.'" Indirect speech usually shifts pronouns and verb tenses back.

An indirect object is the person or thing that receives the direct object of a verb. In "I gave her the book," the book is the direct object and her is the indirect object, because she receives the book. Indirect objects typically appear with verbs of giving, telling, or showing.

No. Someone who is indirect is not straightforward or open in manner, often hinting at things rather than stating them plainly, frequently out of politeness or caution. Dishonesty involves an intent to deceive, whereas an indirect person may be entirely truthful but simply roundabout in how they communicate.