What does dodge mean?
To dodge is to avoid something through quick movement or clever evasion. In its physical sense, it describes a swift sideways or backward motion made to escape being hit, caught, or touched — a boxer might dodge a punch, or a pedestrian dodge oncoming traffic. Figuratively, the word extends to avoiding obligations, questions, or responsibilities, as when a politician dodges a difficult question or someone dodges their tax liability. Because of this second sense, dodge often carries a mildly disapproving connotation, implying evasion rather than honest engagement. The word also functions as a noun: a dodge can be a trick, scheme, or expedient used to get around a rule or difficulty. Derived forms include dodger (one who dodges) and dodgy (informal British usage meaning unreliable or risky). The verb emerged in English in the seventeenth century, and its ultimate origin remains unknown, making it one of the many everyday words whose roots lexicographers have never traced with certainty.
To move quickly to avoid someone or something; to evade a question, duty, or obligation by cunning or evasiveness.
"He ducked and dodged to avoid the blows."
Both transitive and intransitive uses are standard: "she dodged the ball" or "he dodged behind a tree."
A quick evasive movement; also, a trick or cunning expedient used to avoid a rule, duty, or difficulty.
"Paying her in cash was just another tax dodge."
The noun sense of "a trick or scheme" is especially common in British English, as in "clever dodge."
Standard plural for the noun senses, covering both physical evasive movements and tricks or schemes.
"His financial statement was full of dodges designed to hide his income."
Despite centuries of use, no one knows where "dodge" actually comes from — its origins are a genuine mystery that lexicographers have never cracked.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dodge
The verb "dodge" first appears in English in the early seventeenth century, but its ultimate origin is genuinely unknown; no secure cognates in other languages have been established, so no reliable related-root words exist. It quickly developed both its literal sense of moving aside to avoid something and its figurative sense of evading duties or questions. The noun form, meaning a trick or evasion, followed naturally from the verb.
Related word forms
How dodge is actually used
"Dodge" is common in both everyday speech and journalism, often carrying a slightly disapproving tone when used of people who evade duties or taxes. The figurative use (dodging a question or responsibility) is as frequent as the literal physical sense.
Easily confused with dodge
"Dodge" means to evade or avoid something suddenly, while "dredge" means to clear out or gather material from the bottom of a body of water (or to dredge up memories).