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
- 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.
Once fiduciaries carry out that process, they require deference from the law to fulfill properly their role as decision makers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
Plus, she has a trad wife thing going on, emphasizing her deference to her husband’s decisions.
From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026
The debate, called by the Liberal Democrats to demand the release of documents relating to Andrew's 2001 appointment as UK trade envoy, took in privilege, deference, and holding power to account.
From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026
Newsom has routinely won approval from the state’s Democratic base, as well as respect and deference from its elected leaders, and his notoriety as a top foe of Trump continues to rise.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026
Jack could see that you treated them with the same deference you gave the guards.
From "Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps" by Andrea Warren
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.
