# indirect

/ˌɪndɝˈɛkt/ (US) · /ɪndaɪɹˈɛkt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/indirect
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. not straight

adjective · CEFR B1

following a path that is not straight or the shortest way.

For teachers: deviating from a straight line or the most direct course.

- We took an indirect route through the woods to avoid the heavy traffic on the main road.
- The hikers chose an indirect path along the ridge, sacrificing speed for a more gradual incline and better views of the valley.

### 2. not saying something clearly

adjective · CEFR B1

avoiding saying something directly or clearly.

For teachers: not straightforward in communication; avoiding a direct statement or confrontation.

- She gave an indirect answer because she didn't want to hurt his feelings.
- The diplomat used indirect language to signal his country's displeasure without causing a formal break in negotiations.

### 3. secondary or side effect

adjective · CEFR B2

happening as a result of something else, but not immediately or obviously.

For teachers: resulting from a cause through an intermediary agent or as a secondary consequence.

- The new law had an indirect effect on the price of groceries.
- While the factory closure caused immediate job losses, the indirect impact on local small businesses was equally devastating over the following year.

### 4. indirect cost

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a business cost that is not tied to a specific product, like rent or electricity.

For teachers: an expense that is not directly accountable to a specific cost object, such as a particular project or product.

- The company needs to reduce its indirects to stay profitable this quarter.
- The auditor noted that the allocation of indirects was inconsistent across the various manufacturing departments.

### 5. to dereference

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to access data using a pointer or a reference rather than the data itself.

For teachers: to access a value or memory location by means of indirection; to dereference a pointer.

- The program will indirect through the pointer to find the actual value.
- The compiler must indirect the address twice to retrieve the data stored in the nested structure.

## Examples

- We took an indirect route to the park to see the river.
- The tax increase had an indirect effect on the price of groceries across the country.
- While the CEO avoided a direct confrontation, her indirect remarks during the meeting signaled a significant shift in the company's long-term strategy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.