deference
Americannoun
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respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another.
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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
- nondeference noun
Etymology
Origin of deference
1640–50; < French déf érence, Middle French, equivalent to defer ( er ) to defer 2 + -ence -ence
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.
Plus, she has a trad wife thing going on, emphasizing her deference to her husband’s decisions.
From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026
The former senior Whitehall official blames the deference he personally saw being shown to the then Prince Andrew by very senior civil servants and their reluctance to challenge him.
From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026
It was the first time in nearly four centuries that a senior British royal was placed under arrest, and it underscored how deference to the monarchy has eroded in recent years.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026
To me, this is sort of a brave new world, whether we’re going to see courts relax their deference toward the executive branch.
From Salon • Jan. 28, 2026
In spite of her youth, he addressed her with all the deference due a professional educator.
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
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.
