Reroute Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

🔄

Add to dictionary

reroute

[riːˈruːt ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Verb}

transportation

To redirect or change the course of a journey or transportation route.

Synonyms

change course, deviate, redirect.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
reroute	Usually applied when referring to changing the path of transportation or communication. It’s formal and often used in professional or technical settings. Due to the accident on the highway, all traffic has been rerouted. The company had to reroute the call center to another location.
redirect	Commonly used when guiding something or someone to a new direction or purpose. Often appears in digital contexts, traffic management, and communications. The website was temporarily down, so we had to redirect visitors to a backup page. The teacher had to redirect the students' attention back to the lesson.
change course	Often used metaphorically to indicate a change of plan or direction in life or work. It can also refer to physical directional changes in navigation. After realizing the project was not profitable, we decided to change course. The ship changed course to avoid the storm.
deviate	Typically used to describe a departure from an established route, plan, or norm. Has a formal connotation and can imply either a minor or significant change. We had to deviate from the original flight path due to turbulence. It’s important that we do not deviate from the company’s values.

Examples of usage

The traffic jam forced the bus driver to reroute the bus.
The airline had to reroute the flight due to bad weather conditions.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Technology

In telecommunications, rerouting is crucial for managing network traffic and ensuring efficiency.
GPS systems often reroute drivers in real-time to avoid traffic jams or accidents.
Software companies utilize rerouting algorithms to balance server loads and enhance performance.

Psychology

Rerouting can also apply to mental processes, like changing one's thought patterns in therapy to address negative thoughts.
Cognitive flexibility, the ability to reroute thinking, is important for problem-solving and adapting to new challenges.
In decision-making, being able to reroute your plan can lead to better outcomes in uncertain situations.

Pop Culture

In popular songs, the theme of rerouting can represent the journey of love and changing paths in relationships.
Movies often portray characters who intend to go one way but find a different, sometimes better, path, symbolizing personal growth.
Video games frequently involve rerouting strategies, where players must adapt their plans to succeed and complete challenges.

Literature

Authors often use rerouting as a metaphor in novels to illustrate character development and change in direction.
In poetry, changing paths can symbolize life's unpredictability and the journey of finding oneself.
Literary works about travel frequently discuss the idea of rerouting as a means of self-discovery.

Origin of 'reroute'

Main points about word origin

The word combines 're-' meaning again, and 'route' from the Latin 'rupta', meaning a break or a path.
First known use dates back to the mid-20th century, primarily in the context of transportation.
Initially used for vehicles, its application has expanded to digital navigation and data traffic.

The word 'reroute' originates from the combination of 're-' meaning 'back' or 'again' and 'route' meaning 'a way or course taken in getting from a starting point to a destination'. The term has been used in transportation and logistics to describe the action of changing the usual path or direction of travel to reach a destination.

See also: rerouting, rout, router, routine, routing.