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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

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence until 5 December for background reports.

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2024

She is also being held on a motion to revoke a suspended or deferred sentence.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2023

Because Robinson had no criminal record, other than a traffic violation, Benno is seeking the deferred sentence, which means probation and other requirements detailed by the court.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 7, 2022

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