a deferred payment

USAGE SUMMARY

"a deferred payment" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a payment that is postponed to a later date. For example, "The company offered a deferred payment option to ease the financial burden on customers." Alternative expressions include "delayed payment" and "postponed payment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

A spokesman for Brent Council said: "We have stated publicly on a number of occasions that we will offer a deferred payment and we stand by this offer.

Independent

Robbins & Smith said there would be a deferred payment of $25 million to $30 million linked to Romaco's 2001 sales and income performance.

The New York Times

Continental Airlines recently introduced two payment options on its Web site, electronic transfer from a checking account and a deferred payment option called Bill Me Later.

The New York Times

"You are only eligible for a deferred payment loan if your other assets in total come to less than £23,250".

The Guardian

A deferred payment loan secured by a second mortgage shall be repayable over the 15-yearperiod beginning at the end of the deferral period.

Cornell University

Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Kuenne and other shareholders of the privately held Rosetta could receive a deferred payment, in addition to the initial $575 million, if the agency meets financial performance targets.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

A $600 deferred payment on a stove and a $250,000 deferred payment on a home produce a related, pervasive mentality — and it is poisonous.

The New York Times

"My carpenter, my plumber and my electrician all deferred payment to help me get started," she said.

The New York Times

The government will introduce a national deferred payment scheme, part of a package of measures proposed by the Dilnot commission a year ago.

The Guardian

The proposal to introduce a national deferred payment scheme will offer some comfort – it will avoid the necessity of people selling their homes to pay for care during their lifetimes.

The Guardian

The transaction is expected to close in the second or third quarter, and manager-shareholders could receive a potential deferred payment in 2014 based on the agency's performance between 2011 and 2013, Publicis said.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal or academic writing, pair this phrase with terms like "agreement", "scheme", or "plan" to clarify the governing framework of the delay.

Common error

Avoid using "a deferred payment" if the payment has been waived or forgiven entirely. A deferral always implies that the money must still be paid at a later date, whereas a waiver removes the debt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a deferred payment" functions as a noun phrase consisting of an indefinite article, a past participle used as an adjective, and a head noun. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often serves as the direct object of verbs like "offer", "receive", or "negotiate".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "a deferred payment" is a highly reliable and grammatically correct term used predominantly in financial, legal, and social care contexts. Data from Ludwig AI indicates that it is a staple of professional reporting, particularly when discussing debt management or corporate acquisitions. It is distinct from a payment waiver because the obligation remains active. Writers should feel confident using this phrase to describe any formal postponement of a financial transaction in professional or neutral settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponed payment

Uses a more general verb to describe the delay without specific financial jargon

delayed settlement

Focuses on the final closing of an account or legal obligation

balloon payment

A specific type of deferral where a large sum is due at the end of a term

installment plan

Describes a series of payments rather than a single postponed amount

earnout

A business acquisition term for payment contingent on future performance

backloaded payment

Emphasis on the weight of the payment being at the end of a period

accrued liability

The accounting perspective of an obligation that has been incurred but not yet paid

vendor loan

Used when the seller effectively finances the purchase for the buyer

buy now pay later

A modern consumer-facing marketing term for short-term deferral

bullet payment

Refers to a large lump sum payment made at the end of a loan term

FAQs

How do I use "a deferred payment" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a financial delay, for example: "The council offered the homeowner <a href="/s/a+deferred+payment" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a deferred payment scheme to cover the costs of care."

What is the difference between "a deferred payment" and an installment?

While <a href="/s/an+installment+plan" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an installment plan involves multiple smaller payments over time, <a href="/s/a+deferred+payment" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a deferred payment typically refers to a single payment whose entire date has been moved to the future.

Can I say "a delayed payment" instead?

Yes, <a href="/s/a+delayed+payment" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a delayed payment is a perfectly valid alternative, though it sounds slightly less formal than the financial term deferred.

Is "a deferred payment" used in business contracts?

Absolutely. It is common in M&A (mergers and acquisitions) where part of the purchase price is structured as <a href="/s/a+potential+deferred+payment" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a potential deferred payment based on future performance.