deferment
dih-FUR-muhnt
/dɪˈfɜːrmənt/
the act of putting off or postponing; specifically, an official postponement of military service.
A temporary delay or suspension of an obligation, not a permanent release. It implies that the obligation (e.g., military service) will still need to be fulfilled later.
The story behind the word. The word 'deferment' comes from the Latin verb 'differre,' meaning 'to carry apart' or 'to postpone.' It's formed from 'dis-' (apart) and 'ferre' (to carry). So, to 'defer' something is to 'carry it away' to a later time. The noun 'deferment' refers to this act of putting something off, particularly military service.
Word relationships
- postponement: A general term for delaying an event.
- delay: A period of time by which something is put back.
- suspension: A temporary prevention of something from continuing or being in force.
- expedition: The act of speeding up or hastening.
- acceleration: An increase in the rate or speed of something.
Commonly confused with
- exemption: 'Deferment' is a temporary postponement, while 'exemption' is a permanent release from an obligation.
Word family
- defer (verb): to put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone.
Collocations
- student deferment
- draft deferment
- loan deferment
- request a deferment
Example sentences
- "Many college students sought a deferment from the draft to complete their education." Military service
- "She applied for a loan deferment after losing her job, hoping to resume payments once she found new employment." Financial obligations
- "The judge granted a deferment of the trial, allowing the defense more time to prepare." Legal proceedings
Memory hook
To get a 'deferment,' you hope they 'DEFER' your service. Deferment = DEFER service
When not to use
Do not use 'deferment' for a permanent release from an obligation. It is specifically a temporary postponement.
Fun facts
- During the Vietnam War, student deferments were a significant point of contention, as they allowed many middle and upper-class men to avoid service.
Related words
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