defer

verb de·fer \ di-ˈfər \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of defer

deferred; deferring

transitive verb

1 : put off, delay

2 : to postpone induction of (a person) into military service

—

deferrer

noun

defer was our Word of the Day on 04/11/2018. Hear the podcast!

Examples of defer in a Sentence

Backers say the arrangement will make patients more cost-conscious and judicious in their use of medical service, thus restraining health-cost increases; critics say it will cause patients to defer needed treatment and will be attractive only to younger, healthier workers. —Wall Street Journal, 9 Jan. 2006
A far stronger signal came when the draft was revived, shortly before the United States entered World War II. Although married men with families were eligible for induction, in many cases up to the age of forty, high school students were automatically deferred. —Thomas Hine, American Heritage, September 1999
The decision was deferred for a time. John didn't want to do anything drastic until after October … —Joe Klein, Payback, 1984

Recent Examples of defer from the Web

And when that happens, all feelings of being less than a permanent family vanish, and deferring this decision feels just fine.

— georgene smith goodin, chicagotribune.com, "Our foster daughters went back home, but we still see them. Is part-time parenting enough?," 8 Apr. 2018
Brisk is the word, spring deferred; pleasantly warmer tomorrow but Saturday wintry mix brings sorrow.

— david streit, Washington Post, "D.C.-area forecast: Sunny but cool and breezy today while a weekend wintry mix looms," 5 Apr. 2018
Ideally two people will each defer to love a little, and also hold their ground a little, in the interest of being generous to others without giving away their sense of self.

— carolyn hax, idahostatesman, "Falling out of love with alcoholic husband who refuses to change | Idaho Statesman," 5 Apr. 2018
Ideally two people will each defer to love a little, and also hold their ground a little, in the interest of being generous to others without giving away their sense of self.

— carolyn hax, Detroit Free Press, "Falling out of love with alcoholic husband who refuses to change," 5 Apr. 2018
They will be repaid with the project’s property taxes deferred from city coffers.

— meredith cohn, baltimoresun.com, "New Port Covington buildings, bond sale on the drawing board," 3 Apr. 2018
Najib's own brother, Nazir Razak, chairman of the CIMB banking group, has taken to social media to call for it be deferred.

— marc lourdes, CNN, "Malaysia's anti-fake news law raises media censorship fears," 30 Mar. 2018
Cuyahoga Community College's proposed bachelor's in applied science in data integration/database administration was deferred, Robinson said.

— karen farkas, cleveland.com, "Lorain County Community College moves forward on plan to offer bachelor's degree," 20 Mar. 2018
Non-profits and utility companies are helping homeowners make upgrades to their homes by deferring upfront costs and using energy savings to pay down the debt.

— michael isaac stein, WIRED, "The Uneven Gains of Energy Efficiency," 16 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'defer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of defer

Middle English deferren, differren, from Middle French differer, from Latin differre to postpone, be different — more at differ

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of defer

defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

- deferred buying a car until spring

postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

- the game is postponed until Saturday

suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

- business will be suspended while repairs are under way

stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

- the governor stayed the execution

defer

verb de·fer \ di-ˈfər \

Definition of defer

deferred; deferring

transitive verb

: to delegate to another

he could defer his job to no one
—J. A. Michener

intransitive verb

: to submit to another's wishes, opinion, or governance usually through deference or respect

deferred to her father's wishes

Examples of defer in a Sentence

But in 1775, when William chose loyalty to empire over deference to his father, Franklin abruptly, angrily, and permanently broke with his son. Despite having defied his own father (in leaving Boston), Franklin pulled patriarchal rank to demand that his son defer to his politics: "there are natural duties which precede political ones, and cannot be extinguished by them." —Alan Taylor, New Republic, 13 Jan. 2003
Israelis can be harsh with each other, but they defer to the security guards who check their backpacks at the mall entrances. They put their faith in the Army. —David Brooks, Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2001

Origin and Etymology of defer

Middle English deferren, differren, from Middle French deferer, defferer, from Late Latin deferre, from Latin, to bring down, bring, from de- + ferre to carry — more at bear

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of defer

yield, submit, capitulate, succumb, relent, defer mean to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist. yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty.

- yields too easily in any argument

submit suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another.

- a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God

capitulate stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force.