deflect

American  

[dih-flekt] / dɪˈflɛkt /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to bend or turn aside; turn from a true course or straight line; swerve.

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deflect British  

/ dɪˈflɛkt /

verb

1. to turn or cause to turn aside from a course; swerve

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Usage

What does deflect mean? To deflect something is to redirect it—to cause it to move in a direction that’s different from the course it had been on, as in The goalie was able to deflect the ball away from the goal. Deflect can also be used in a passive way meaning for something to have its course changed, as in The ball deflected after hitting the goalie’s outstretched hand. Deflect can also be used in a figurative way meaning to do something to avoid questioning or scrutiny, as in When asked about the scandal, the senator deflected by giving a vague answer and changing the subject. The act or process of deflecting is deflection, which can be used for both the literal and figurative senses of deflect (and more technical uses). Example: The meteor is headed straight for Earth—our only chance is to deflect it using the space laser!

Other Word Forms

• deflectable adjective
• deflector noun

Etymology

Origin of deflect

1545–55; < Latin dēflectere to bend down, turn aside, equivalent to dē- de- + flectere to bend, turn

Explanation

The verb deflect describes blocking something or changing its course. Hockey goalies deflect the flying puck with their sticks or blockers, making it travel in a different direction, preferably to a teammate's stick. In a cartoon, a mouse might ask an approaching cat, "Hey, what's that up in the sky?" When the cat looks up, the mouse runs away, successful in his attempt to deflect the cat's attention. When you deflect, you throw someone or something off course, often by using a distraction. Another way to deflect something — such as criticism — is to blame someone else. Eventually the truth, like the cat who quickly sees there's nothing unusual up in the sky, catches up with those who deflect.

Example Sentences

“This is just a fig leaf to deflect from criticism,” Ocasio-Cortez posted on X External link in response to Kalshi’s new measures.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

In December, The Times revealed that the city’s after-action report had been altered to deflect criticism of LAFD’s failure to predeploy engines and crews to the Palisades, among other shortcomings.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

With the puck inches away from sneaking past him, a desperate, flailing Hellebuyck reached back and somehow managed to deflect it away at the last possible moment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

When called to testify before an oversight board, a police official can deflect accusations of targeting specific racial groups or poorer neighborhoods, claiming that they are merely following the objective dictates of a machine.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

He was a mini Coriolis force, trying to deflect us.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd

Related Words

• avert
• bend
• divert
• hook
• pivot
• ricochet
• swerve
• veer
• whip