Deference
The act of submitting to the opinions or wishes of another; respectful yielding.
nounDeference
The act of submitting to the opinions or wishes of another; respectful yielding.
nounImagine This
You may have a different opinion than your boss, but at the end you follow his suggestions; you must submit out of respect for him.
Sounds Like
difference
Looks Like
defer ence; resembles the verb 'defer' (to yield) + the noun-forming suffix '-ence'
Remember This
Remember that 'defer' means to yield or submit; '-ence' turns a verb into a noun describing a state or quality. Deference is a formal, respectful yielding to someone else's judgment.
Other Forms
Connect With
respect, reverence, obedience, submission, compliance
Note
Do not confuse with deferral (postponement). Deference refers to respect and yielding in opinion or judgment, whereas deferral means delaying something. Deference is often used in formal or social contexts to describe respectful submission.