diversionary

adjective

di·​ver·​sion·​ary də-ˈvər-zhə-ˌner-ē 

dī-, 

-shə-

: tending to draw attention away from the principal concern : being a diversion

Examples of diversionary in a Sentence

This is nothing more than a diversionary tactic to distract attention from the issues.

Recent Examples on the Web

Mayo was eventually stopped when the officer used a diversionary tactic. —Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

Flores Silva’s bodyguards dispersed as a diversionary tactic, but he was found while trying to hide in a drainage pipe. —Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026

Shaban eventually acknowledged that he and his now fiancé were allowed to participate in a diversionary program and, after counseling, the charges against them were dismissed. —Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2026

On Monday, LaPlaca was sentenced to three years in a diversionary program for first-time offenders after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and a fourth-degree child abuse charge. —Joe Brandt, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

diversion + -ary entry 2

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for diversionary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary