deflect

verb

de·​flect di-ˈflekt 

dē-

deflected; deflecting; deflects

transitive verb

: to turn (something) aside especially from a straight course or fixed direction

armor that deflects bullets

deflecting attention from the troubled economy

deflect a question

intransitive verb

: to turn aside : deviate

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

• 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

Building alliances before a crisis or conflict arises can actually help deter attacks, or ensure that they are deflected to easier targets. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025

Compher deflected in a Travis Hamonic point shot 27 seconds after that. —Max Bultman, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025

The first was a Nick Schmaltz shot that deflected off his skate and past Filip Gustavsson for a 3-0 Mammoth lead. —John Shipley, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025

Morgan Geekie beat Josh Manson in a race to the puck after Boston’s David Pastrnak deflected it into the Avs zone from near center ice. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025

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

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