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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.

Deferred annuities, as the name suggests, are intended for long-term financial planning and building a nest egg for income in several years to come.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 2026

As a teenager, she applied to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, paid her fee and was fingerprinted for a background check.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Juan has an older sibling who was approved for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which provides work authorization to people who moved to the U.S. as children and lack legal status.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2025

Deferred compensation plans can help, if workers have access to them, he said.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025

Again, such suggestions may be for a future time, and be performed only when a suggested interval has elapsed; they are then called Deferred or Post-hypnotic Suggestions.

From The Story of the Mind by Baldwin, James Mark

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