deflection

noun

de·​flec·​tion di-ˈflek-shən 

dē-

1

: the act of changing or causing to change direction

2

: the departure of an indicator or pointer from the zero reading on the scale of an instrument

Synonyms of deflection

• deviation
• departure

Examples of deflection in a Sentence

measuring the angle of deflection

He scored with a deflection off another player's stick.

Recent Examples on the Web

After years of work, Xu’s team solved key challenges such as wide-angle exhaust deflection, earning more than 50 patents, a national defense award, and recognition as China’s leading group in the field. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Feb. 2026

In 178 career games across 12 seasons — all with the Cowboys — Woodson accounted for 967 total tackles (franchise high), including 26 for loss, 23 interceptions and 36 pass deflections. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Feb. 2026

This deflection has been found to be too extreme to be accounted for by the visible matter in lensing galaxies. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026

Submerged by a deluge of battles lost, assignments missed and a pair of deflections off Vancouver defenders into their own net. —Thomas Drance, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for deflection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction

Medical Definition

deflection

noun

de·​flec·​tion di-ˈflek-shən 

1

: a turning aside or deviation from a straight line

2

: the departure of an indicator or pointer from the zero reading on the scale of an instrument

deflect

di-ˈflekt 

verb