An indirect result or effect is not caused immediately and obviously by a thing or person, but happens because of something else that they have done.
Businesses are feeling the indirect effects from the recession that's going on elsewhere.
Millions could die of hunger as an indirect result of the war.
His influence has been profound, but it has been indirect.
Synonyms: related, accompanying, secondary, subsidiary More Synonyms of indirect
indirectlyadverb [usually ADVERB adjective, ADVERB with verb]
There is clear evidence that mobile phone usage has been indirectly responsible fora number of accidents.
The president is indirectly elected by parliament.
Synonyms: second-hand, on the grapevine [informal] More Synonyms of indirect
Synonyms: by implication, in a roundabout way, circumlocutorily More Synonyms of indirect
2. adjective
An indirect route or journey does not use the shortest or easiest way between two places.
The goods went by a rather indirect route.
Synonyms: circuitous, winding, roundabout, curving More Synonyms of indirect
3. adjective
Indirect remarks and information suggest something or refer to it, without actually mentioning it or stating it clearly.
His remarks amounted to an indirect appeal for economic aid.
There were indirect references to his opponent.
So far the evidence is only indirect.
Synonyms: oblique, implied, roundabout, backhanded More Synonyms of indirect
indirectlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
He referred indirectly to the territorial dispute.
Synonyms: second-hand, on the grapevine [informal] More Synonyms of indirect
Synonyms: obliquely, in a roundabout way, evasively, not in so many words More Synonyms of indirect
English Easy Learning GrammarThe declarativeThe declarative is used to make statements. A statement is usually the expressionof a fact or of an opinion. Statements can be both positive or negative. Kate ... Read more
indirect in British English
(ˌɪndɪˈrɛkt)
adjective
1.
deviating from a direct course or line; roundabout; circuitous
2.
not coming as a direct effect or consequence; secondary
indirect benefits
3.
not straightforward, open, or fair; devious or evasive
an indirect insult
4.
(of a title or an inheritance) not inherited in an unbroken line of succession from father to son
Derived forms
indirectly (ˌindiˈrectly)
adverb
indirectness (ˌindiˈrectness)
noun
indirect in American English
(ˌɪndəˈrɛkt; occas., ˌɪndaɪˈrɛkt)
adjective
not direct
; specif.,
a.
not straight; deviating; roundabout
b.
not straight to the point, or to the person or thing aimed at
an indirect reply
c.
not straightforward; not fair and open; dishonest
indirect dealing
d.
not immediate; secondary
an indirect result
Derived forms
indirectly (ˌindiˈrectly)
adverb
indirectness (ˌindiˈrectness)
noun
Word origin
ME < ML indirectus
indirect in Accounting
(ɪndaɪrɛkt)
adjective
(Accounting: Management)
A company's indirect costs are costs that are not directly associated with the production of goods.
The direct and indirect costs associated with absenteeism alone are almost $350,000 per year.
Absorption costing is a technique by which the overhead and indirect costs associated with a product, contract, or service are allocated to that unit.
A company's indirect costs are costs that are not directly associated with the production of goods.
Word builderin-The prefix in- is often added to adjectives to make their opposites.
Examples of 'indirect' in a sentence
indirect
Free kicks Should direct free kicks be allowed, or indirect free kicks only?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There were no grounds for the indirect discrimination claim.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This means just one extra transaction cost when taking the indirect route rather than the direct route.
Maurice D. Levi International Finance: The markets and financial management of multinational business. (1983)
But their indirect influence has been considerable.
Boyne, Roy Foucault and Derrida - The Other Side Of Reason (1990)
We do not know what the sum of direct and indirect costs of bankruptcy amounts to.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
There may potentially be scope for existing staff to claim indirect discrimination.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The most obvious example of such an indirect route is behaviour.
Dylan Evans PLACEBO: The Belief Effect (2003)
Such encouragement is both direct and indirect.
Christianity Today (2000)
And there is a significant indirect effect.
The Sun (2008)
The next question concerned indirect race discrimination.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It may also take the form of indirect discrimination.
Coyle, Andrew & Stern, Vivien The Prisons We Deserve (1994)
Other flight options will involve indirect routes.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Radio also has an indirect influence.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Ironically, the fire was the indirect result of a new environmental consciousness.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
To apply behavior costing methodology properly, both direct and indirect costs must be considered.
A Conceptual View of Human Resource Management: Strategic Objectives, Environments,Functions
In the absence of a time machine, biologists must resort to the indirect evidence provided by comparative studies.
Dylan Evans PLACEBO: The Belief Effect (2003)
The inquiry finds that more than half the women who died from direct or indirect causes in the most recent period were either overweight or obese.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Its best influence may be indirect, by the example of sudden, transforming prosperity.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Digging holes in roads for pipes and cables costs 1 billion annually and a further 4 billion through indirect costs caused by delays and inconvenience.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
indirect
British English: indirect /ˌɪndɪˈrɛkt/ ADJECTIVE
An indirect result or effect is not caused immediately and obviously by a thing or person, but happens because of something else that they have done.
Millions could die of hunger as an indirect result of the war.
American English: indirect
Arabic: غَيْرُ مُبَاشِرٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: indireto
Chinese: 间接的
Croatian: neizravan
Czech: nepřímý
Danish: indirekte
Dutch: indirect
European Spanish: indirecto
Finnish: epäsuora
French: indirect
German: indirekt
Greek: έμμεσος
Italian: indiretto
Japanese: 間接的な
Korean: 간접의
Norwegian: indirekte
Polish: pośredni
European Portuguese: indireto
Romanian: indirect
Russian: непрямой
Latin American Spanish: indirecto
Swedish: indirekt
Thai: ไม่ตรง
Turkish: dolaylı
Ukrainian: непрямий
Vietnamese: gián tiếp
All related terms of 'indirect'
indirect cost
a business cost that is not directly accountable to a particular function or product; a fixed cost, as a land tax or the like
indirect tax
An indirect tax is a tax on goods and services which is added to their price . Compare → direct tax .
indirect costs
business expenses , such as rent , that are not directly attributable to any department or product and can therefore be assigned only arbitrarily
indirect demand
the secondary demand for labour , raw materials, premises etc which arises from the direct demand for goods
indirect labour
work done in administration and sales rather than in the manufacturing of a product
indirect object
An indirect object is an object which is used with a transitive verb to indicate who benefits from an action or gets something as a result . For example , in 'She gave him her address ', 'him' is the indirect object. Compare → direct object .
indirect proof
proof of a conclusion by showing its negation to be self-contradictory ; reductio ad absurdum
indirect speech
Indirect speech is speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person's actual words: for example , 'They said you didn't like it', 'I asked her what her plans were', and ' Citizens complained about the smoke '.
indirect discourse
Indirect discourse is the same as → indirect speech .
indirect evidence
See circumstantial evidence
indirect injection
Indirect injection is a diesel engine injection system in which ignition is started before the burning mixture enters the main combustion chamber .
indirect lighting
reflected or diffused light from a concealed source
indirect question
An indirect question is the same as a → reported question .
indirect taxation
Indirect taxation is a system in which a government raises money by means of indirect taxes .
indirect free kick
a free kick from which a goal cannot be scored until after the ball has been touched by at least one player other than the kicker
indirect discrimination
discrimination by means of rules , regulations or procedures that may appear to be neutral , but which actually discriminate against certain groups of people.