deft
Americanadjective
adjective
Related Words
See dexterous.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of deft
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; variant of daft
Explanation
Deft means "showing cleverness and skill in handling things." What you want to see in football or basketball is some deft handling of the ball. Some people are physically deft, like accomplished athletes and ballet dancers. Their movements are fast, graceful, and deliberate. Others might be mentally or intellectually deft. You could describe a beautifully written essay as deft, or talk about a politician's deft work on an anti-bullying bill. The source of deft is the Old English gedæfte, "mild or gentle," which became deft in Middle English along with its meaning of "apt, skillful, or adept."
Vocabulary lists containing deft
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List 6
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The Cay
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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.
DSPs for Equitable and Fair Treatment, or Deft, aims to push Amazon to increase pay for package deliveries and reimbursement for van usage, and loosen the criteria for bonus payouts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025
Deft flying helped the pilot of a seaplane make an emergency crash landing in a cornfield in Clements, Maryland, Thursday.
From Washington Times • Aug. 25, 2023
Deft hands, fleet feet and bundles of power and aggression make the 21-year-old a handful for any defence.
From BBC • Dec. 10, 2021
Deft scripting, characterisation and nuanced performances—particularly from Ms Foy—make sure the insights into the private lives of the royal family never stray into sensationalism.
From Economist • Dec. 12, 2017
Deft with a sewing machine, Katherine bought fabric from the dry goods store and stayed up nights making school outfits for the girls and dresses for herself.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
