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
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
Makar slipped the puck to Nelson, and his shot from the left circle found the top-right corner with the help of a deflection from Erik Cernak’s stick.
—
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Despite these differences, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is resorting to a familiar playbook for repressing protests, blending a passing acknowledgement of his system’s shortcomings with maximum deflection and defiance.
—Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
Luvu had a career-high eight sacks and seven pass deflections in 2024, but his production and play dipped this season, in part because he was thrust into a different role.
—Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Jackson leads the league in pass deflections, according to Pro Football Reference, with 19.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflection
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Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Despite these differences, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is resorting to a familiar playbook for repressing protests, blending a passing acknowledgement of his system’s shortcomings with maximum deflection and defiance.
—Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
Luvu had a career-high eight sacks and seven pass deflections in 2024, but his production and play dipped this season, in part because he was thrust into a different role.
—Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Jackson leads the league in pass deflections, according to Pro Football Reference, with 19.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflection
Cite this Entry
“Deflection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deflection. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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