# deferral

/dɪˈfɝəɫ/ (US) · /dɪfˈɜːɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deferral
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. postponement

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of delaying something until a later date.

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

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

### 2. accounting/finance

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

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

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

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

## Examples

- She requested a deferral of her university admission.
- Due to a family emergency, he applied for a deferral of his student loan payments for six months.
- The board approved a deferral of the capital gains tax, allowing the company to reinvest the funds into expansion projects rather than immediately settling its liability with the state.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.