evader

An evader is a person or thing that escapes, avoids, or eludes capture, detection, or punishment. In everyday language the term refers to someone who flees a pursuer or withdraws from a dangerous situation. The term can describe individuals as well as objects, strategies, or systems designed to avoid observation or contact. Etymology: from evade, via Old French evader and Latin evadere, meaning to go out or escape.

Contexts: Law and crime: a tax evader is someone who illegally avoids paying taxes; a fugitive is someone who avoids arrest. In military and security contexts, evaders are those who escape from enclaves, occupied territory, or prison camps. In espionage or counterintelligence, evasion refers to tactics intended to avoid detection, though public discussion emphasizes legality and safety.

Science and games: In mathematics and computer science, pursuit–evasion problems study how pursuers can capture an evader. In robotics and autonomous systems, agents may be programmed to both chase and evade under certain rules. In biology, prey species evolve evasion strategies to avoid predators. In sports and games, players may act as evaders to avoid being tagged or intercepted, as in tag or video games.

Tax evasion and fraud: the term is widely used to describe illegal avoidance of taxes or regulatory obligations. Legal contexts distinguish between evasion (illegal) and avoidance (legal planning).