Crossword Genius

Escape the French, returning for example with alias (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

leakage

'escape' is the definition.
('leakage' can be a synonym of 'escape')

'the french returning for example with alias' is the wordplay.
'the french' becomes 'le' (**).
'returning' says the letters should be written backwards.
'for example' becomes 'eg' ('e.g.' can be a synonym of 'for example').
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'alias' becomes 'aka' ('a.k.a.' can be a synonym of 'alias').
'eg' backwards is 'ge'.
'ge' put after 'aka' is 'akage'.
'le'+'akage'='LEAKAGE'

(Other definitions for leakage that I've seen before include "Something that has escaped, like gas or secret" , "Percolation" , "Unwanted escape (eg of water or information)" , "Accidental spill" , "Fluid which escapes" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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