deference
Americannoun
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respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another.
-
respectful or courteous regard.
in deference to his wishes.
noun
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submission to or compliance with the will, wishes, etc, of another
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courteous regard; respect
Other Word Forms
- nondeference noun
Etymology
Origin of deference
1640–50; < French déf érence, Middle French, equivalent to defer ( er ) to defer 2 + -ence -ence
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There were, though, some concerns expressed about those conventions — and a sense from some that for too long custom had been the midwife of deference and that must change.
From BBC
The debate, called by the Liberal Democrats to demand the release of documents relating to Andrew's 2001 appointment as UK trade envoy, took in privilege, deference, and holding power to account.
From BBC
The former senior Whitehall official blames the deference he personally saw being shown to the then Prince Andrew by very senior civil servants and their reluctance to challenge him.
From BBC
When it is Prince William's time, he will inherit a Crown where deference is diminished, privilege is pored over and financial accountability is scrutinised hard.
From BBC
The Administration’s strongest argument is that it deserves deference on questions that implicate foreign affairs.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
