What does “deference” mean?
- 1
nounpolite respect shown to someone, often by accepting their opinion or wishes
He spoke to the old professor with great deference.
Deference at a glance
- Part of speech
- noun
- CEFR level
- C2 (proficient)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈdɛfərəns/ · DEF-er-uns
How to use “deference” correctly
“In deference to” means “out of respect for”: “The party was cancelled in deference to the family’s wishes.”
Common phrases with “deference”
- in/out of deference to
- show deference to
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- respect
- regard
- submission
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- disrespect
- defiance
Word family
- defer
- deferential
- deferentially
“deference” is on these word lists
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