defer the payment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defer the payment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the postponement of a payment obligation to a later date. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have decided to defer the payment until next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The government says it can no longer afford the system: for every £100 a student borrows to defer the payment of tuition fees until after graduation, the government pays about £35.

The Guardian

The oil companies, based in San Antonio, said they had agreed to trim Tesoro's purchase price by $50 million, to $1.07 billion, and defer the payment of $150 million.

The New York Times

Elderly people living in homes worth more than £2m would be able to defer the payment until their death or until they sell the property as long as they are not higher rate taxpayers.

The Guardian

It is also unclear whether they were influenced by a law, enacted in 2006, that lets justices defer the payment of capital gains taxes on stock sales by reinvesting the profits in mutual funds or government securities.

The New York Times

Scala said: "If it is true what they are saying that they had an oral agreement at the time they made the written contract to defer the payment, that payment should have been recorded in the accounts in 2002 and subsequent years.

The Guardian - Sport

One of the options floated was allowing people to defer the payment until after they die, prompting the Tories to dub it a death tax.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Ministers also disagreed on whether airlines could temporarily defer the payments of some fees paid to air traffic authorities.

The New York Times

XM is trying to defer the payments after its cash and cash equivalents dwindled to $31.7 million in the third quarter from $182.5 million a year earlier.

The New York Times

If you have prior education loans (undergraduate or another graduate program), you may be able to defer the payments while you are enrolled in law school.

Harvard University

On December 1st, Dye, Schwolsky, and Groll got an e-mail from Sanders, the chief financial officer, asking if they would agree to defer the payments due them that month to the first business day in January , 2012

The New Yorker

Fortunately, you can often work to consolidate these loans after college, and defer the payments until you're finished with school.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal communication, follow "defer the payment" with specific terms or conditions associated with the deferral, such as interest accrual or penalties.

Common error

Avoid using "defer the payment" when you actually mean the payment is being forgiven or waived entirely. Deferral implies the payment is still due, just at a later date.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defer the payment" functions primarily as a verb phrase acting as the predicate in a clause. It describes the action of postponing a payment to a later time. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "defer the payment" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that means to postpone a payment to a later date. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's important to consider the context and potential alternatives such as "postpone the payment" or "delay the payment". The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, with a neutral register suitable for a variety of settings. Remember to clearly communicate the reason for deferral and the new payment date when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone the payment

Suggests a temporary delay, similar to the original phrase, but might imply a definite future date.

delay the payment

Implies a less formal postponement, often due to unforeseen circumstances or temporary difficulties.

reschedule the payment

Focuses on changing the payment's timing, highlighting the act of arranging a new date.

extend the payment deadline

Specifically refers to lengthening the period allowed for payment, emphasizing the time aspect.

suspend the payment

Implies a temporary cessation of payment obligations, often with conditions for resumption.

put off the payment

Suggests procrastination or avoidance of payment until a later time.

hold off on the payment

Indicates a deliberate decision to not make the payment immediately, often waiting for a specific reason.

table the payment

Formally proposes to delay the payment discussion or action to a future meeting or date.

adjourn the payment

Implies a formal postponement of payment, especially within structured financial or legal contexts.

roll over the payment

Suggests moving the payment obligation into a new period or agreement, often involving interest or fees.

FAQs

What does it mean to "defer the payment"?

To "defer the payment" means to postpone it to a later date. The obligation to pay still exists, but the timing is shifted.

What are some alternatives to saying "defer the payment"?

You can use alternatives like "postpone the payment", "delay the payment", or "reschedule the payment" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "defer the payment" and "waive the payment"?

Yes, "defer the payment" means to postpone it, while "waive the payment" means to eliminate the requirement to pay it entirely.

In what situations might someone "defer the payment"?

Common situations include financial hardship, temporary cash flow issues, or negotiated agreements with lenders or service providers to "delay the payment".