deflect

American  

[dih-flekt] / dɪˈflɛkt /

verb (used with or without object)

deflects, present (3rd person singular) deflected, past participle, past deflecting present participle

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

Derived Forms

• deflector
  noun
• deflectable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• deflecting
  present
• deflected
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• deflect
  simple
• deflects
  simple
• have deflected
  perfect
• has deflected
  perfect
• am deflecting
  progressive
• are deflecting
  progressive
• is deflecting
  progressive
• have been deflecting
  perfect progressive
• has been deflecting
  perfect progressive

Past

• deflected
  simple
• had deflected
  perfect
• was deflecting
  progressive
• were deflecting
  progressive
• had been deflecting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will deflect
  simple
• will have deflected
  perfect
• will be deflecting
  progressive
• will have been deflecting
  perfect progressive

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

World Liberty said Sun was seeking to deflect attention from his own misconduct, and later filed its own lawsuit against Sun.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

One of the more outlandish proposed solutions to climate change is to install orbiting fleets of mirrored satellites that can deflect sunlight, so cooling the planet.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

“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

"I think it's there to deflect outrage," she said of her sport being a mixed event.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

At least Fyrian never attempted to deflect or obfuscate Luna’s many questions.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill

Related Words

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