evasion
This term carries a strong sense of intentionality and strategic avoidance. It is not a passive failure to meet a goal, but a conscious effort to slip away from a responsibility or a confrontation. In legal or financial contexts, it implies a deceptive or illegal act, such as avoiding taxes through fraud.
When applied to conversation, it describes a slippery quality where a person provides vague or misleading answers to avoid committing to a truth. It suggests a tactical maneuver designed to protect the speaker from exposure or accountability.
Countable when referring to a specific instance of avoiding a question or a physical obstacle. Uncountable when referring to the general practice of avoiding legal or financial duties.
Meanings
The act of avoiding something, especially an obligation or a direct question.
His clever evasion of the topic frustrated the interviewer.
Examples
His clever evasion of the topic frustrated the interviewer.