runaround
noun
runaround is spelled R-U-N-A-R-O-U-N-D: 9 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 71,529th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, runaround means “An evasive explanation in the form of multiple excuses” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of runaround is runarounds.
How many letters and syllables are in runaround?
| Letters | 9: R-U-N-A-R-O-U-N-D |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 6 million words; the 71,529th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is runaround?
Runaround appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 71,529th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce runaround?
- US
Runaround has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-NaomiAmethyst-runaround.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with runaround
Also written: run-around (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of runaround
- runarounds plural
- run-around
- run around
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does runaround mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
An evasive explanation in the form of multiple excuses.
I called them to find out what had happened to my parcel, but all I got was a runaround.
- 2
A detour or route that bypasses an obstacle.
- 3
A section of type that is narrower than that of the column it is part of; typically next to an illustration.
- 4
A whitlow running around the fingernail but not affecting the bone.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Runaround in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense evasive explanation:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | ausweichende Antwort, Ausweichen |
| Portuguese | enrolação |
| Spanish | dar largas |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does runaround come from?
Deverbal from run around.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).