defer
dih-FER
/dɪˈfɜːr/
To submit humbly to another's wish, judgment, or authority.
Implies yielding out of respect, politeness, or recognition of superior expertise or authority.
The story behind the word. From Latin deferre, from de- (down) + ferre (to carry). You carry down your own opinion and offer the decision to someone else.
Word relationships
- yield: Yield is general, while defer is yielding out of respect for another's authority or expertise.
- dictate: Dictate is to command, while defer is to let someone else decide.
Commonly confused with
- delay: Delay means to postpone in time, while defer can mean to postpone, but in this context means to submit to another's judgment.
Word family
- deference (noun): Humble submission and respect.
- deferential (adjective): Showing deference; respectful.
Collocations
- defer to someone's judgment
- defer to expertise
- defer to authority
Example sentences
- "I will defer to the doctor's expertise in this matter." Showing professional respect in a medical setting.
Memory hook
You defer to a doctor because they have the degree and expertise. Defer = Carry your judgment down to someone else's.
When not to use
Do not use when yielding out of fear or weakness; use cower or succumb instead.
Fun facts
- The two meanings of defer (to postpone vs. to submit) come from two different Latin paths: differre (to delay) and deferre (to submit).
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.