Word
deference
Phoneticsdef·er·ence, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɛfɝəns/
UK/dˈɛfɹəns/
Españoldeferencia
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the act of showing respect by letting someone else make a decision or by following their advice.
n. the act of yielding to the opinion, will, or judgement of another out of respect or recognition of their authority.
Examples
“He showed great deference to his elders.”
“The junior staff showed deference to the senior partner during the meeting, allowing him to lead the discussion.”
“In many traditional cultures, deference is not merely a social courtesy but a legal requirement, ensuring that younger generations do not challenge the established authority of their ancestors.”
Examples
simple
“He showed great deference to his elders.”
contextual
“The junior staff showed deference to the senior partner during the meeting, allowing him to lead the discussion.”
complex
“In many traditional cultures, deference is not merely a social courtesy but a legal requirement, ensuring that younger generations do not challenge the established authority of their ancestors.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'in deference to'.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'difference'. Remind them that 'deference' is about 'deferring' or yielding to someone else.
Real-World Examples
“Deference was a conscious task that involved honoring the boundaries, rules and expectations of community members.” “These include excessive exercise, perfectionism, rule following, deference to coaches, high achievement and obsessive-compulsive traits.” Etymology
From French déférence. Morphologically defer + -ence.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/deference
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0