deferred

adjective

de·​ferred di-ˈfərd 

1

: withheld for or until a stated time

a deferred payment

2

: charged in cases of delayed handling

telegraphs sent at deferred rates

Examples of deferred in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other witnesses included fellow protester John Richardson, who entered a deferred judgment program last year, and Stanford facilities director Mitch Bousson, who testified about the extent of the damage. —Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026

By last July, around 25,000 employees had left the agency through layoffs or deferred resignations, around 25% of the agency’s workforce. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026

According to court records, Raiola received a deferred sentence for a 2020 child abuse charge in Adams County after completing a program. —Christa Swanson, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026

Aging facilities suffer from failing plumbing, electrical systems, and safety equipment, with billions of dollars in deferred maintenance. —Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of defer entry 1

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing deferred

• tax-deferred

Rhymes for deferred

• afterword
• firebird
• hummingbird
• ladybird
• mockingbird
• overheard
• thunderbird
• undergird
• undeterred
• absurd
• averred
• bluebird

Legal Definition

deferred

adjective

de·​ferred

di-ˈfərd

: withheld or delayed for or until a stated time

a deferred payment

deferred prosecution