deflection

noun

de·​flec·​tion di-ˈflek-shən 

dē-

1

: a turning aside or off course : deviation

2

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

Synonyms

• 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

Active defender and someone that’s capable of getting deflections. —Cj Moore, New York Times, 20 June 2025

The attempt took a deflection and trickled toward goal. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

But an odd shot from Carter Verhaeghe took a Panthers bounce off Skinner’s body, landing right at the stick of captain Aleksander Barkov, who sent it right to Reinhart for the deflection into the net. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025

And above all, be willing to respond—not with deflection, but with clarity. —Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1605, 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