Defer: meaning, definitions and examples

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defer

 

[ dɪˈfəː ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

finance

To postpone or delay something, especially the payment of a debt.

Synonyms

delay, postpone, put off

Examples of usage

  • The company decided to defer the loan repayment for another month.
  • She chose to defer her retirement plans until the economy stabilized.
Context #2 | Verb

education

To postpone enrollment or attendance at a college or university for a specified period.

Synonyms

delay, postpone, suspend

Examples of usage

  • The student decided to defer her admission to the following year.
  • He deferred his studies to travel around the world.
Context #3 | Noun

legal

A postponement of a court case to a later date.

Synonyms

delay, postponement, suspension

Examples of usage

  • The judge granted a deferment of the trial due to new evidence being presented.
  • The lawyers agreed to a defer of the hearing until next month.

Translations

Translations of the word "defer" in other languages:

🇵🇹 adiar

🇮🇳 स्थगित करना

🇩🇪 verschieben

🇮🇩 menunda

🇺🇦 відкладати

🇵🇱 odroczyć

🇯🇵 延期する (enki suru)

🇫🇷 différer

🇪🇸 aplazar

🇹🇷 ertelemek

🇰🇷 연기하다 (yeongi hada)

🇸🇦 تأجيل (ta'jil)

🇨🇿 odložit

🇸🇰 odložiť

🇨🇳 推迟 (tuīchí)

🇸🇮 preložiti

🇮🇸 fresta

🇰🇿 кейінге қалдыру

🇬🇪 გადავადება (gadavadeba)

🇦🇿 təxirə salmaq

🇲🇽 aplazar

Etymology

The word 'defer' originated from the Latin word 'differre', which means 'to postpone'. The term has been used in various contexts throughout history, including finance, education, and law. In finance, deferring a payment allows for temporary relief from financial obligations. In education, deferring enrollment provides students with the opportunity to explore other interests before pursuing higher education. In legal settings, a deferment of a court case may be granted for various reasons, such as the need for further evidence or the availability of key participants.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,029, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.