WordWeb Online

1. Having intervening factors, persons or influences
   "reflection from the ceiling provided a soft indirect light"; "indirect evidence"; "an indirect cause"
    
2. Not as a direct effect or consequence
   "indirect benefits"; "an indirect advantage"
    
3. Not direct in spatial dimension; not leading by a straight line or course to a destination
   "sometimes taking an indirect path saves time"; "you must take an indirect course in sailing"
    
4. Descended from a common ancestor but through different lines
   "an indirect descendant of the Stuarts";
   - collateral
    
5. Not direct in manner, language, behaviour or action
   "making indirect but legitimate inquiries"; "an indirect insult"; "doubtless they had some indirect purpose in mind"; "though his methods are indirect they are not dishonest"; "known as a shady indirect fellow"

See also: allusive, ambagious [archaic], askance, askant, asquint, backhanded, circuitous, circumlocutious, circumlocutory, crooked, devious, digressive, directness, discursive, diversionary, excursive, hearsay, mealymouthed, mealy-mouthed, meandering, mediate, oblique, periphrastic, rambling, related, roundabout, secondary, sidelong, squint, squint-eyed, squinty, straightness, tortuous, wandering, winding

Antonym: direct

Encyclopedia: Indirect