Standard Lemma guide

workaround

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈwɜːk.əɹaʊnd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: W ER1 K ER0 AW1 N D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A means or method of circumventing an obstacle, particularly one arising from constraints, laws or regulatory requirements.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A procedure or a temporary fix that bypasses a problem and allows a user to continue working until a better solution can be provided.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: kludge, kluge

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An impromptu and temporary response to an unforeseen problem or risk.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: project management

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From work + around.

Across languages

Translations

46 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: تَحَاشٍ (taḥāšin) — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Arabic: تَجَنُّب (tajannub) — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Dutch: tijdelijke oplossing — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Finnish: viritys — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Finnish: temppu — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • French: solution — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • French: bidouillage — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • French: magouillage — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • French: trucage — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Italian: espediente — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Italian: trucco — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Italian: stratagemma — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Italian: marchingegno — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Polish: obejście — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Portuguese: contornar — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Portuguese: ajuste — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Russian: обходное решение (obxodnoje rešenije) — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Russian: трюк (trjuk) — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Serbo-Croatian: rješenje — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Serbo-Croatian: alternativno rješenje — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Serbo-Croatian: zaobilazno rješenje — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: elusión — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: solución alternativa — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: ajuste — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: arreglo — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: paliativo — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: método alterno — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: circunvalación — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: baipás — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: puenteo — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: acomodación — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: burla — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: circunvenimiento — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: rebusque — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: contorneo — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: solución temporánea — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Spanish: solución temporaria — a temporary means of overcoming some obstacle
  • Finnish: väliaikainen korjaus — (computing) a procedure or a temporary fix
  • French: contournement — (computing) a procedure or a temporary fix
  • German: Workaround — (computing) a procedure or a temporary fix
  • Italian: workaround — (computing) a procedure or a temporary fix
  • Polish: obejście — (computing) a procedure or a temporary fix
  • Russian: костыль (kostylʹ) — (computing) a procedure or a temporary fix
  • Russian: хак (xak) — (computing) a procedure or a temporary fix
  • Italian: scappatoia — (project management) an impromptu and temporary response
  • Polish: obejście — (project management) an impromptu and temporary response