deferred sentence

British

noun

law a sentence that is postponed for a specific period to allow a court to examine the conduct of the offender during the deferment Compare suspended sentence

"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

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.

Johnson avoided prison after his 2005 conviction, getting a deferred sentence and probation.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2025

Sheriff Annella Cowan had previously deferred sentence to obtain a criminal justice social work report.

From BBC • Jul. 28, 2025

Kwang Yeong-seok, a lower-ranking officer at the Yongsan station, received a four-month deferred sentence after being found guilty of destroying files under Kim’s instruction.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2024

Sheriff Michael Hanlon deferred sentence until next month, pending background reports.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2023

He said he received a deferred sentence and the case was ultimately expunged from his record.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 9, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023