To try not to meet or communicate with (a person); to shun.
Understanding avoid
• To stay out of the way of (something harmful).
• To keep away from; to keep clear of; to stay away from.
• To try not to do something or to have something happen.
• To make empty; to clear.
• To make void, to annul; to refute (especially a contract).
• To defeat or evade; to invalidate.
• To emit or throw out; to void.
• To leave, evacuate; to leave as empty, to withdraw or come away from.
• To get rid of.
• To retire; to withdraw, depart, go away.
• To become void or vacant.
How avoid affects you
avoid appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
The mechanics of avoid
In practice, avoid is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.