indirect
gb/ɪndɚˈɛkt/ us/ɪndɚˈɛkt/
B1
English
~ 7600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
not said or done openly
Not saying or doing something in a clear and open way, but only suggesting it.
Usage pattern:
an indirect [comment/answer/approach/criticism]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "indirect" with "impolite" or "dishonest". While indirect speech can hide a message, it is often used to be polite or careful, not to lie. Also, learners may overuse "indirect" where "polite" or "soft" would be more natural.
Synonyms
subtle (Often suggests being gentle or fine in meaning; can be positive, while 'indirect' is more neutral.)
|
implicit (Focuses on being understood without being stated; more formal than 'indirect'.)
Antonyms
direct (Says or does something in a clear, open way, without hiding or suggesting.)
|
frank (Very open and honest in speech, often more personal than 'direct'.)
Collocations
indirect criticism
|indirect comment
|indirect answer
|indirect approach
|indirect reference
Themes
communication
|emotions
|social
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her email was full of indirect criticism about how I manage the team.
- He gave an indirect answer, so I still don’t know what he really thinks.
- The manager made an indirect comment that some people might lose their jobs.
- I prefer clear feedback, even if it’s harsh, to indirect hints.
- The company used indirect language to avoid taking responsibility for the mistake.
Learner examples
- She gave an indirect answer to the question.
- His words were indirect, so I did not understand his real message.
- My boss never says he is angry; he is very indirect.
- The teacher made an indirect comment about my homework.
- I do not like indirect criticism; I want clear words.
adjective
B1
property
2
not straight, roundabout route
Going a longer or not straight way to get to a place.
Usage pattern:
an indirect [route/path/flight] to [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "indirect" instead of "connecting" for flights (e.g., "indirect flight" instead of the more common "connecting flight"). "Indirect" is correct but less common; native speakers usually say "connecting flight" or "flight with a layover".
Synonyms
roundabout (Very similar meaning; often used for routes or explanations that are unnecessarily long.)
|
circuitous (More formal; suggests a very long, winding route.)
Antonyms
direct (A straight or shortest route from one place to another.)
|
straight (Focuses on not bending or turning, literally in a line.)
Collocations
indirect route
|indirect flight
|indirect path
|take an indirect route
|indirect journey
Themes
travel
|daily_life
|navigation
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We took an indirect route to avoid the rush-hour traffic.
- There’s no direct flight, so we’ll have to take an indirect flight with a layover in Dubai.
- The trail is quite indirect, winding through the forest instead of cutting across the valley.
- Google Maps suggested an indirect path that actually saved us time.
- Because of the storm, the ship had to follow an indirect course along the coast.
Learner examples
- We took an indirect route to the hotel.
- There is only an indirect flight to that city.
- The road is indirect and goes around the mountain.
- This path is very indirect and takes a long time.
- He walked in an indirect line across the park.
adjective
B2
property
3
caused in a secondary way
Happening because of something, but not as the main or first effect; it comes through another thing in the middle.
Usage pattern:
an indirect [effect/impact/consequence/result] of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse "indirect" with "weak". An indirect effect can be very strong; "indirect" describes the path from cause to effect, not how big it is. Also, some learners overuse "indirect" where "related" or "connected" would be more natural.
Synonyms
secondary (Emphasizes that the effect is not the main one; often used in technical or academic language.)
|
knock-on (effect) (Informal; focuses on a chain reaction of effects.)
Antonyms
direct (Describes an effect that comes straight from the cause, with nothing important in between.)
|
immediate (Happens right away as the first result of something.)
Collocations
indirect effects
|indirect impact
|indirect consequences
|indirect result
|indirect harm
|indirect benefit
Themes
science
|business
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The pandemic had serious indirect effects on mental health.
- Smoking can have indirect impacts on children who live in the same home.
- The new law may cause indirect harm to small businesses.
- Tourism brings many indirect benefits to local communities, such as more jobs in restaurants and shops.
- The report looks at both the direct and indirect consequences of climate change on agriculture.
Learner examples
- The new road had indirect effects on small villages nearby.
- His decision had an indirect impact on my life.
- There were many indirect consequences of the accident.
- The war caused indirect harm to people who were far from the fighting.
- We must think about the indirect results of this plan.
adjective
B2
property
4
through a middle person or channel
Going through another person or thing in the middle, not going straight from one person or thing to another.
Usage pattern:
indirect [communication/contact/connection/access] between [people/things]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the idea of something being unclear. Here, "indirect" describes the path or method (through another person or system), not whether the message itself is clear or unclear.
Synonyms
mediated (More formal; clearly states that something works through a middle agent or system.)
|
third-hand (Informal; often used for information that passed through several people and may not be reliable.)
Antonyms
face-to-face (Describes direct personal contact without anything in between.)
|
unmediated (Formal; means there is nothing in the middle controlling or changing the contact or relationship.)
Collocations
indirect communication
|indirect contact
|indirect access
|indirect connection
|indirect control
Themes
communication
|technology
|social
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We have only indirect contact with the client; everything goes through their lawyer.
- Social media allows a lot of indirect communication between brands and customers.
- The company exercises indirect control over the market through its smaller partner firms.
- Researchers studied the virus’s indirect transmission through surfaces.
- She felt his influence in an indirect way, through the policies he had created years earlier.
Learner examples
- I only have indirect contact with him through email.
- They use indirect communication and speak through an agent.
- We have indirect access to the data via another system.
- Her power is indirect; she works through her friends.
- The news came to me in an indirect way, through my cousin.
adjective
technical
B1
property
5
reported, not quoted exactly
(Grammar) Showing what someone said or asked, but not using their exact words; the sentence is changed.
Usage pattern:
indirect [speech/question/statement]
Common mistake:
Learners often think "indirect question" means a question that is not clear. In grammar, it means a question hidden inside a normal sentence (e.g., "Can you tell me where the station is?") or reported speech, not necessarily unclear or polite by itself.
Synonyms
reported (speech) (Common teaching term; usually used only with "speech" and sounds slightly more technical.)
Antonyms
direct (speech) (Gives the speaker’s exact words, usually inside quotation marks.)
Collocations
indirect speech
|indirect question
|indirect statement
|change to indirect speech
|report in indirect speech
Themes
language
|education
|communication
Examples
- In English, indirect speech usually moves the tense back one step.
- The sentence "He asked me where I lived" is an example of an indirect question.
- Students often find it difficult to change direct speech into indirect speech.
- Indirect questions are more polite in English, especially with strangers.
- The teacher gave us several examples of indirect statements to rewrite.
Learner examples
- We learned how to make indirect speech in class.
- This sentence is an indirect question, not a direct one.
- Please change this direct speech into indirect speech.
- Indirect speech is common in news reports.
- He asked me what I was doing is an indirect question.
adjective
technical
B2
property
6
tax on goods or services
(Economics) A tax on things you buy or use, such as goods or services, not a tax directly on your income or property.
Usage pattern:
an indirect [tax/system] on [goods/services/spending]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "indirect tax" means a "small" or "hidden" tax. In fact, it describes how the tax is collected (through prices of goods and services), not how big or visible it is.
Synonyms
consumption tax (A type of indirect tax; focuses on money spent, not money earned.)
Antonyms
direct tax (A tax paid straight on income, property, or wealth, such as income tax.)
Collocations
indirect tax
|system of indirect taxes
|indirect taxation
|indirect tax on goods
|indirect tax on consumption
Themes
economy
|politics
|business
|finance
|law
Examples
- VAT is a form of indirect tax paid on most goods and services.
- Governments often raise indirect taxes when they want to increase revenue quickly.
- Critics argue that indirect taxation is unfair to low-income families.
- The report compares the effects of direct and indirect taxes on economic growth.
- Most countries rely heavily on indirect tax for public spending.
Learner examples
- VAT is an indirect tax on many products.
- An indirect tax is paid when you buy something.
- Many people do not see how much indirect tax they pay.
- The government increased indirect taxes last year.
- Indirect taxes can make basic goods more expensive.
Grammar
Dictionary form
indirect
IPA
GB/ɪndɚˈɛkt/
US/ɪndɚˈɛkt/
Syllables & stress
in - dir - ect (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (dir)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: indirect
Word family
Expressions
by indirect means
1/bˈaɪ ɪndɚˈɛkt mˈinz/
fixed phrase
formal
using mediated or hidden methods
Using methods that go through other people or things, instead of acting in a clear, direct way.
Examples
- The government tried to control the media by indirect means.
- He gained influence in the company by indirect means rather than official promotion.
- Change can sometimes be achieved more easily by indirect means.
in an indirect way
1/ˈɪn ən ɪndɚˈɛkt wˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
not straight or open manner
Using a method that is not straight or open; not doing or saying something in a clear and direct way.
Examples
- He apologized in an indirect way by bringing her flowers.
- The film critic praised the movie in an indirect way, mostly by attacking other films.
- They warned us in an indirect way that jobs might be cut.
indirect costs
1/ɪndɚˈɛkt kˈɔsts/
fixed phrase
technical
overhead or shared business costs
In business, costs that are needed for work to happen but are not clearly linked to one product or job, like rent or electricity for the whole office.
Examples
- The budget must include both direct and indirect costs.
- Indirect costs such as administration and utilities are often forgotten.
- The grant will not cover indirect costs like office rent.
indirect flight
1/ɪndɚˈɛkt flˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
flight with a stopover
A flight that does not go straight from your starting city to your final city; you must stop or change planes on the way.
Examples
- There are no direct flights, so we’ll have to book an indirect flight with a layover in Paris.
- Indirect flights are often cheaper but take more time.
- We decided to take an indirect flight to save money.
indirect object
1/ɪndɚˈɛkt ˈɑbd͡ʒɛkt/
fixed phrase
technical
grammar term for receiver of action
In grammar, the noun or pronoun that gets something or receives the action, but is not the main thing acted on (for example, "me" in "She gave me a book").
Examples
- In the sentence "He sent her a letter", "her" is the indirect object.
- English learners often confuse the direct object and indirect object.
- The teacher asked us to underline the indirect objects in each sentence.
indirect question
1/ɪndɚˈɛkt kwˈɛst͡ʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
embedded or reported question form
A question that is inside another sentence, so the word order looks like a normal sentence, not like a direct question.
Examples
- "Could you tell me where the station is?" is an indirect question.
- Indirect questions are often more polite than direct ones in English.
- Students must learn how to form indirect questions correctly for the exam.
indirect route
1/ɪndɚˈɛkt ɹˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
roundabout way of traveling
A way to go from one place to another that is not the shortest or straightest way.
Examples
- We took an indirect route to avoid the toll roads.
- The bus follows an indirect route through several small towns.
- An indirect route can sometimes be faster if the main road is very busy.
indirect rule
1/ɪndɚˈɛkt ɹˈul/
fixed phrase
formal
governing through local leaders
A way of ruling a country or area where the main power uses local leaders to control people, instead of ruling them directly.
Examples
- Under indirect rule, the colonial power governed through traditional chiefs.
- The history course includes a chapter on indirect rule in Africa.
- Indirect rule often kept local power structures in place while serving foreign interests.
indirect speech
1/ɪndɚˈɛkt spˈit͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
technical
grammar term for reported speech
A way of telling what someone said, but you change the words and the grammar instead of using their exact words.
Examples
- The textbook gives clear rules for turning direct speech into indirect speech.
- In indirect speech, pronouns and verb tenses usually change.
- News reports often use indirect speech to summarize long quotes.
indirect tax
1/ɪndɚˈɛkt tˈæks/
fixed phrase
technical
tax on spending, not income
A tax that you pay when you buy things, because it is included in the price of goods or services.
Examples
- Value-added tax is a common type of indirect tax.
- Many governments prefer to raise money through indirect taxes rather than income tax.
- Indirect taxes can be harder for people to notice because they are included in prices.