deference

[ def-er-uh ns ]

/ ˈdɛf ər əns /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deference ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another.

respectful or courteous regard: in deference to his wishes.

Nearby words

defensive circle, defensive driving, defensive medicine, defensively, defer, deference, deferent, deferent duct, deferentectomy, deferential, deferentially

Origin of deference

1640–50; < French déférence, Middle French, equivalent to defer(er) to defer² + -ence -ence

Related formsnon·def·er·ence, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for deference

He oversaw a brutal regime, aimed at instilling respect, deference and acceptance of duty into the princes.
Kate and William’s Royal Family Values|Tom Sykes|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Other themes are more character-based, such as the “Bowie, Cocteau, Visconti” section, in deference to dandies and dapper men.
What Drives Fashion Designer Dries Van Noten|Sarah Moroz|March 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tall and taciturn, he exuded the easy authority of a young man used to money and the deference that came with it.
Doug Kenney: The Odd Comic Genius Behind ‘Animal House’ and National Lampoon|Robert Sam Anson|March 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From the deference with which he was received they rightly guessed that he was the chief of the tribe.
The Story Behind The World’s Greatest Headline|Brandy Zadrozny|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Heritage Action pushed for the government shutdown, but stayed out of the debt ceiling fight in deference to their funders.
Republicans Compromise on the Budget, but Don’t Expect Them To Compromise on the Debt Ceiling|Eleanor Clift|December 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The parish priest was received with respect and deference by all, even by the alferez.
Friars and Filipinos|Jose Rizal
The sisterhood, appointed by her and entirely dependent upon her liberality, would treat her with the deference due to a queen.
Louis XIV., Makers of History Series|John S. C. Abbott
I did so, as I mentioned at the time, in deference to general opinion, for many would call it superfluous breaking.
Dog Breaking|William Nelson Hutchinson
The deference they paid and his assured acceptance of it showed him to be a man of importance.
The Yukon Trail|William MacLeod Raine
On his arrival the blinds would be pulled down in deference to his wish for a more perfect privacy.
The Divine Fire|May Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for deference

deference

/ (ˈdɛfərəns) /

noun

submission to or compliance with the will, wishes, etc, of another

courteous regard; respect

Word Origin for deference

C17: from French déférence; see defer ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for deference

deference

1640s, from French déférence (16c.), from déférer (see defer (v.2)).

deference

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of deference

Examples from the Web for deference

British Dictionary definitions for deference

deference

noun

Word Origin for deference

Word Origin and History for deference

deference