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Synonyms

deferred

American  
[dih-furd] / dɪˈfɜrd /

adjective

  1. postponed or delayed.

  2. suspended or withheld for or until a certain time or event.

    a deferred payment; deferred taxes.

  3. classified as temporarily exempt from induction into military service.


deferred British  
/ dɪˈfɜːd /

adjective

  1. withheld over a certain period; postponed

    a deferred payment

  2. (of shares) ranking behind other types of shares for dividend

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of deferred

First recorded in 1645–55; defer 1 + -ed 2

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.

Many projects, like the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial and African American history museum, began as the deferred dreams of ordinary citizens.

From Slate • May 18, 2026

Billings, which adjusts revenue to include changes in deferred revenue, jumped 31% from a year ago to $2.09 billion.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

In the March quarter, Fortinet grew billings — calculated as revenue plus the change in deferred revenue — by 31% to $2.09.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

The judge, Lord Harrower, deferred sentence on the youth for the preparation of a report until next month at the High Court in Dundee, and he will be detained in a secure unit until then.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

But my dream had to be deferred, for I learned very quickly of the extensive plans that the ANC had for me, and none of them involved a relaxing journey to the Transkei.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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