deft

adjective

ˈdeft 

: characterized by facility and skill

the photographer's deft use of lighting

the deft fingers of the trumpeter

deftly adverb

deftness

ˈdef(t)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• adroit
• artful
• bravura
• delicate
• dexterous
• dextrous
• expert
• masterful
• masterly
• practiced
• practised
• skillful
• virtuoso
• workmanlike

Choose the Right Synonym for deft

dexterous, adroit, deft mean ready and skilled in physical movement.

dexterous implies expertness with consequent facility and quickness in manipulation.

unrolled the sleeping bag with a dexterous toss

adroit implies dexterity but usually also stresses resourcefulness or artfulness or inventiveness.

the magician's adroit response to the failure of her prop won applause

deft emphasizes lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch or handling.

a surgeon's deft manipulation of the scalpel

Examples of deft in a Sentence

The photographer is known for her deft use of lighting.

a luthier whose deft craftsmanship is prized by violinists the world over

Recent Examples on the Web

Early in the second half, Andrew Privett rose at the near post and flicked home a glancing header off another penalty — a deft finish, his first career MLS goal, and a moment that sealed the result for good. —Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2025

Barber responded with a deft sand shot, enabling a tap-in for the record. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025

The actor is one of the burgeoning next generation of women in the action and sci-fi genres, already a deft hand at playing complex women. —Fernanda Pérez Sánchez, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2025

After all, Kai Havertz was not signed from Chelsea in summer 2023 for his prolific goalscoring ability, but for his intelligent pressing, deft link-up play, and versatility to interchange positions with Arsenal’s other forwards — qualities that make their attacking unit dynamic and unpredictable. —Mark Carey, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps continuing Middle English daffte, daft, defte "well-mannered, gentle, dull, foolish" — more at daft

Note: Rather than being derived directly from Middle English, Modern English deft may go back to an unattested Old English *gedefte (with umlaut), with a meaning "fit, ready" developing to "apt, skilfull"; the sense shift is otherwise difficult to account for, though the lack of any certain attestation of deft in the sense "skillful" before the later 16th century makes this scenario hypothetical.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deft

• cleft
• heft
• left
• theft
• bereft

Kids Definition

deft

adjective

ˈdeft 

: quick and skillful in action

knitting with deft fingers

deftly adverb

deftness

ˈdef(t)-nəs 

noun