deferred

[ dih-furd ]

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

/ dɪˈfɜːd /

adjective

1. withheld over a certain period; postponed

   a deferred payment

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

Other Words From

• unde·ferred adjective
• well-de·ferred adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deferred¹

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

Example Sentences

Wells Fargo’s February settlement with the Justice Department includes a deferred prosecution agreement that’s contingent on the bank “continuing to cooperate with further government investigations.”

From Fortune

More than a century of deferred work, however, means it’s hard to get into places that need thinning.

From MIT Technology Review

On July 23, an anonymous foundation employee told Eater that the lengthy list of demands was “met with more gaslighting and deferred action.”

From Eater

The report noted customer satisfaction scores may have been boosted by the fact that many callers were seeking deferred payment arrangements during the pandemic—and getting them.

From Fortune

That is until August, where digital ad revenue was up year-on-year due to the release of pent up demand or deferred campaigns.

From Digiday

While this deferred action is controversial in the United States, in Mexico, what Obama did is universally popular.

From The Daily Beast

But for those on the Israeli right who are hoping that this deferred dream will just fade away, they can forget it.

From The Daily Beast

Ideally, Kerry would like to see the UN issue deferred until after the March Israeli elections.

From The Daily Beast

The U.S. Air Force would not officially comment on the matter and deferred all queries to the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

From The Daily Beast

A companion bill slated for a vote to defund DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) was shelved.

From The Daily Beast

All applications, including therein any on which action may have been deferred because in excess of the aforesaid 10 per cent.

From Project Gutenberg

The Annandale men deferred reply till the morrow, and slipped away to their homes overnight.

From Project Gutenberg

But on August 11, he countermanded the order for these ships and men, 'the King having deferred his expedition for the present.'

From Project Gutenberg

The cost of this conversion naturally increases the longer action is deferred, and in any case would be very great.

From Project Gutenberg

I had intended to make an excursion to the Lake Vaihiria, but deferred doing so, in order to be present at the burial.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• delayed
• negotiated
• postponed