deference
Americannoun
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respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another.
-
respectful or courteous regard.
in deference to his wishes.
noun
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submission to or compliance with the will, wishes, etc, of another
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courteous regard; respect
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of deference
1640–50; < French déf érence, Middle French, equivalent to defer ( er ) to defer 2 + -ence -ence
Explanation
Sure you wear ripped jeans to school every day, but you don't wear them to your grandmother's house out of deference to her. When you show deference to someone, you make a gesture of respect. The noun deference goes with the verb defer, which means "to yield to someone's opinions or wishes out of respect for that person." If you and your dad disagree about the best route to the grocery store, you might defer to him, and take his route. You're taking his route out of deference to his opinion and greater experience.
Vocabulary lists containing deference
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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ASVAB Word Knowledge
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Deference also arises in large part from the understanding that the executive brings significant expertise through the various national security agencies, a synthesis of professional knowledge and experience that courts do not possess.
From Slate • Apr. 19, 2018
Deference to industry in the absence of any true data privacy rules represents a judgment that market efficiency is more important than potential social harm.
From The Verge • Feb. 11, 2015
Deference was the practice of showing respect for individuals who had distinguished themselves through military accomplishments, educational attainment, business success, or family pedigree.
From Textbooks • Dec. 30, 2014
Some say that challenging the EPA's interpretation of "supply" might prove difficult due to a nearly 30-year-old principle called the "Chevron Deference."
From Reuters • Oct. 18, 2013
Deference to fashion, therefore, may contribute substantially to good health.
From The Prospective Mother, a Handbook for Women During Pregnancy by Slemons, J. Morris (Josiah Morris)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
