# parry

/ˈpɛɹi/ (US) · /pˈæɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/parry
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. to avoid a question

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to avoid answering a difficult or clever question by changing the subject.

For teachers: to evade or dodge a question, argument, or criticism with a clever or deflective response.

- The politician tried to parry the reporter's questions about the new tax.
- During the press conference, the CEO skillfully parried inquiries regarding the company's falling stock prices by focusing on future innovations.

Usage: Often used in political or journalistic contexts to describe verbal evasion.

## Examples

- The fencer managed to parry the sudden attack.
- During the press conference, the minister managed to parry every difficult question about the budget cuts.
- The experienced lawyer was able to parry the prosecutor's aggressive line of questioning with a series of calm, technical objections that frustrated the opposition.

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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.