Crossword Genius

Prevent state involvement, ultimately (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

avert

'prevent' is the definition.
(averting is a kind of preventing)

'state involvement ultimately' is the wordplay.
'state' becomes 'aver' (I've seen this before**).
'ultimately' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'involvement' is 't'.
'aver'+'t'='AVERT'

(Other definitions for avert that I've seen before include "Prevent from happening" , "Turn aside or ward off" , "Turn away or aside" , "Turn away, prevent" , "Prevent from occurring" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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