indirect
Noun pluralindirects
Verbindirects, indirecting, indirected
Pluralindirects
Formsindirects, indirecting, indirected
- 1Caused by something else as a side result, not happening straight away.
Like a stone thrown in a pond: the ripples reach the edge even though the stone never touched it.
The new tax had an indirect effect on small businesses.
Job losses were an indirect result of the factory closing.
Similarincidental, secondary, collateral
- 2Not taking the shortest or easiest way, but going around instead.
Like going the long way around a block instead of cutting straight across.
We took an indirect route to avoid the highway traffic.
The hikers followed an indirect trail that wound around the lake.
Similarcircuitous
- 3Not aimed straight at the real point, so the true goal stays hidden or unclear.
Like talking about the weather when you really want to ask for a favor.
Her indirect questions slowly led him toward the real issue.
He gave an indirect answer that dodged the main point.
Similaroblique, veiled, implicit, roundabout
Oppositedirect, explicit, blunt, straightforward
- 4Not done in a straight or open way, but through something or someone else.
Like passing a note through a friend instead of handing it over yourself.
His criticism was indirect, hidden inside a joke.
We received the news through indirect channels.
Similarcircuitous
Oppositedirect
Note
- 5A business cost not tied to one single product or job, such as rent or heating.
Like the electric bill for a whole bakery: you can't say how much one single cake used.
Accountants spread each indirect across several departments.
Rent and utilities are the most common indirects on the books.
Similaroverhead
Note
- 6To reach a stored value by following a pointer that leads to where it is kept.
Like a treasure map that points to a spot: you follow it to find the real thing.
The function will indirect the address to fetch the data.
You must indirect the handle to reach the real object.
Similardereference
Note
- 7A heating unit that warms a room out of sight, by heating air rather than with a hot surface you can see.
Like warm air rising from a hidden vent rather than heat from a stove you can see.
The old mansion was warmed by a single indirect set behind the wall.
Workers replaced the worn indirects with newer heating units.
Note
Less common meanings
- 8Not honest or fair, but sly and dishonest in how someone acts.
Like winning a game by cheating instead of playing fair.
The judge found the merchant's dealings indirect and far from fair.
Did you, by indirect, and forced courſes / Subdue, and poyſon this tong Maides affections? / Or came it by requeſt, and ſuch faire queſtion / As ſoule, to ſoule affordeth?
c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”Here, indirect means dishonest or sneaky, not fair or straight.Note
- 9Of a proof, showing something is true because the opposite cannot be true.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Latin indirectus, meaning "not direct." It came into English through French.