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

Fellow defensive end Austin Booker was active as well, and his pass deflection turned into James Lynch’s interception. — Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Europe's Hera planetary defense spacecraft is closing in on the binary asteroid system targeted by NASA's DART deflection test, and can now tell the two rocky bodies apart. — Andrew Jones, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026

He had been subbed out for Cayden Boozer seconds before the deflection and the devastating 35-foot dagger from Braylon Mullins that sent the Blue Devils packing and UConn back to the Final Four. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026

Before Amin Nabizada scored the opener that day, via a deflection off the visitors’ Joel Veltman, Hermansen flapped at Othmane Maamma’s delivery from the right flank. — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 28 Oct. 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