English Reference
noun

deferral

n.
US /dɪˈfɝəɫ/ UK /dɪfˈɜːɹəl/ de·fer·ral UK spelling deferrals

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal

    the act of delaying something until a later date.

    the act of delaying or postponing an event, decision, or obligation.

    Simple

    The student requested a deferral of her university place until next year.

    In context

    The board granted a one-year deferral of the project, citing the need for further environmental impact assessments before breaking ground.

    Usage

    Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

    postponementdelayadjournment
  2. 02 C1 Advanced TechnicalFormal Law

    putting off the payment of a tax or debt until a future time.

    the postponement of a tax liability or the recognition of revenue or expenses to a future accounting period.

    Simple

    The government offered a tax deferral to help small businesses during the crisis.

    In context

    Under the new regulations, corporations may apply for a deferral of capital gains tax if the proceeds are reinvested in qualifying assets.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the phrases 'tax deferral' or 'payment deferral'.


From defer + -al, formed in English with a doubled r to keep the pronunciation of defer clear, early 19th century.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated