verb
Uncommon
defer
dih-FUR
Defer (verb) means to put something off until a later time; to postpone. Example: “The university let him defer his admission for a year.”
verb
1
To put something off until a later time; to postpone.
"The university let him defer his admission for a year."
"They deferred the decision until after the holidays."
2
To yield to someone else's opinion, judgment, or authority.
"On matters of design, I defer to my business partner."
How to use defer
Learner’s notes
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "differ" (to be unlike) even though they share a Latin ancestor — "defer" is about postponing or yielding, "differ" is about being different.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
defer to someone's judgment
defer payment
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like defer.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- defers
- Past tense
- deferred
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The university let him _____ his admission for a year.
Etymology
From Old French differer, from Latin differō — the same ultimate root as "differ," making them doublets of each other.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for defer
See all rhymes for defer →Frequently asked questions
What does “defer” mean?
The word “defer” means to put something off until a later time; to postpone.
How do you pronounce “defer”?
“Defer” is pronounced dih-FUR (/dɪˈfɝ/ in IPA).
How do you use “defer” in a sentence?
Here is “defer” used in a sentence: “The university let him defer his admission for a year.”
What part of speech is “defer”?
“Defer” is a verb.
Where does the word “defer” come from?
The word “defer” comes from Latin. From Old French differer, from Latin differō — the same ultimate root as "differ," making them doublets of each other.
Is “defer” a common word?
“Defer” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “defer” have?
“Defer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to put something off until a later time; to postpone.
