defer

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'defer' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a verb meaning to delay or postpone something or to show respect or obedience to someone. For example: "The company has decided to defer the project until the end of the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

From the beginning, Abu Ahmed said, others in the camp seemed to defer to him.

The Guardian

It was something that did not appeal to public school-educated male cabinet, who were mostly brought up to defer politely to ladies.

The Guardian

In transparency litigation in the national-security sphere, the courts almost invariably defer.

The Guardian - Opinion

That the court declined to defer here suggests that it found the arguments from the Obama administration to be not simply unpersuasive but wholly without foundation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Or could you defer it a bit longer?" Although smart grid technology is still in its infancy, the UK is recognised as a European leader for investment in smart grid research, partly due to the £500m Low Carbon Network government fund, which provides financial support for projects designed to test out ideas.

The Guardian

The Torrance motion was accepted after a rival proposal, to defer the decision for two years until the theological forum's report was completed, was rejected by 213 votes to 205.

The Guardian

The plan will infuriate Conservative government members who believed they had a deal with the Liberal Democrats to defer a decision on green targets in the power sector until after the election.

The Guardian

Last year's Lib Dem conference under the leadership of the Treasury chief secretary, Danny Alexander, overwhelmingly backed the setting of a decarbonisation target, but the energy secretary, Ed Davey, was forced to defer the proposal as part of his wider negotiations over green energy, including a £7.6bn-per-year Treasury commitment to provide green subsidies.

The Guardian

The ability to defer gratification is as close as you might get to a superpower.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We always believed these were important to our work, so we developed them very early -- other elements of our plan were less certain and so might change, but we could safely defer such decisions until closer to the time we'd have to build them.

The Guardian

"Don't defer and defer and defer," recommended Gaitskell.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "defer" in the context of respecting someone's opinion, ensure that the subject genuinely values the other person's judgment, which reinforces the meaning of yielding or submitting to that judgment.

Common error

Avoid using "defer" when you simply mean "delay" without the connotation of respect or yielding. "Postpone" or "delay" might be more appropriate if the action doesn't involve submitting to someone else's authority.

Linguistic Context

The verb "defer" primarily functions as a transitive verb, indicating the action of postponing or yielding. Ludwig examples show its application in diverse contexts, aligning with the Ludwig AI's assessment of its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "defer" is a versatile term used to indicate postponement or yielding to another's judgment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. Predominantly found in news, business, and scientific contexts, "defer" carries a neutral to formal tone. When writing, remember to use "defer" when the intention is either to postpone with respect or to show deference. For simple delays, consider alternatives like "postpone" or "delay". With its frequent usage and clear contextual applications, "defer" is a valuable addition to any writer's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone

Implies a conscious decision to delay an event or action to a later time.

delay

Suggests causing something to happen at a later time than originally planned, often due to unforeseen circumstances.

put off

Indicates a more informal way of postponing or delaying something, often due to reluctance.

hold off

Suggests intentionally waiting before taking action or making a decision.

shelve

Implies putting a plan or project aside, often with the intention of revisiting it later.

yield to

Indicates submitting to the will or authority of someone else.

submit to

Suggests accepting someone else's judgment or decision.

bow to

Implies conceding or giving way to someone else's opinion or authority, often reluctantly.

accede to

Indicates agreeing to a demand or request, often after some hesitation.

remit

Suggests referring a matter to another authority for decision or action.

FAQs

How can I use "defer" in a sentence?

You can use "defer" to mean to postpone something, as in "The company decided to "defer" the project launch". Alternatively, it can mean to yield to someone's judgment, such as "I "defer" to your expertise on this matter".

What are some alternatives to using "defer"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "postpone", "delay", "yield to", or "submit to".

Is it correct to say "defer on a decision"?

While not grammatically incorrect, it's more common and natural to say ""defer" a decision" or "<a href="/s/defer making a decision". Using "on" might sound slightly awkward to native English speakers.

What's the difference between "defer" and "differ"?

"Defer" means to postpone or yield, while "differ" means to be unlike or disagree. For example, "We will "defer" the meeting" (postpone), and "Our opinions "differ"" (disagree).