deflect

verb

de·​flect di-ˈflekt 

dē-

deflected; deflecting; deflects

transitive verb

1

: to cause (something) to change direction especially from a straight course

armor that deflects bullets

deflecting attention from the troubled economy

deflect a question

2

: to keep (something, as a question) from affecting or being directed at a person or thing

was able to deflect criticism

intransitive verb

: to hit something and change direction

the shot deflected off the goalie's shoulder pad

deflectable

di-ˈflek-tə-bəl 

dē-

adjective

deflective

di-ˈflek-tiv 

dē-

adjective

deflector

di-ˈflek-tər 

dē-

noun

Synonyms of deflect

• turn
• swing
• divert
• redirect
• whip

Examples of deflect in a Sentence

armor that can deflect bullets

The goalie deflected the ball with his hands.

The ball deflected off the goalie's shoulder.

They are trying to deflect attention from the troubled economy.

The blame was deflected from the chairman.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ryder Ajeto’s first touch in the box was deflected by a Florida defender, but Ajeto followed the ball and scored from eight yards to produce the final 3-1 margin. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Griezmann back-heeled a shot that was deflected and then tapped in the loose ball to give Orlando City a 2-1 lead in the 81st. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026

Smith connected with six different receivers on his seven passes, completing all of them (one was deflected and landed in left guard Dylan Parham’s hands). — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 22 Aug. 2026

Washington also scored on a Dylan Crews RBI double in the fifth that deflected off the glove of a diving Esteury Ruiz in shallow right-center field. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin deflectere to bend down, turn aside, from de- + flectere to bend

First Known Use

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for deflect

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• detect
• direct
• dissect
• effect
• eject

Kids Definition

deflect

verb

de·​flect di-ˈflekt 

: to turn or cause to turn aside (as from a course, direction, or position)

a bullet deflected by striking a wall

deflection

-ˈflek-shən

noun