deference

American  

[def-er-uhns] / ˈdɛf ər əns /

noun

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

2. respectful or courteous regard.

   in deference to his wishes.

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deference British  

/ ˈdɛfərəns /

noun

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

2. courteous regard; respect

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Other Word Forms

• nondeference noun

Etymology

Origin of deference

1640–50; < French déf érence, Middle French, equivalent to defer ( er ) to defer ² + -ence -ence

Example Sentences

There was no deference in her tone or body language.

From The Wall Street Journal

Congress delegated to the president the determination of what an emergency is, so a degree of deference to his judgment is in order.

From The Wall Street Journal

Still, out of deference to his wife, he mostly keeps his constructions confined to a single room downstairs.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The facts do not justify the President’s actions in Illinois, even giving substantial deference to his assertions,” they said in a 3-0 ruling last week.

From Los Angeles Times

The judges found that the law in question requires “a great level of deference” to the president to decide when protest flashes into rebellion, and whether boots on the ground are warranted in response.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• civility
• courtesy
• reverence