deferral

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'deferral' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is usually used to refer to the act of postponing something or delaying a decision. For example, "The school board voted to approve a one-year deferral of tuition payments due to the economic situation caused by the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Game 39 was last seen being shunted into the siding of a five-year deferral, but privately its creators still believe it will re-emerge.

The Guardian - Sport

Israeli pressure on Abbas to agree to the deferral of the report subsequently backfired and Goldstone's document was endorsed by the UN general assembly the following month.

The Guardian

Not sharing Double-edged deferral One careful owner?

The Economist

He is trying to do just enough to persuade countries at the UN to vote for a deferral of the ICC case against him, as they have the power to do.

The Economist

The vice-president, Kalonzo Musyoka, himself a lawyer, toured Africa to seek support for a year's deferral, to allow time to set up a domestic tribunal that would, by law, kick the ICC off the case.

The Economist

At the very least, as has been the custom since 2008, any bank in the EU that accepts state aid has to submit a restructuring plan to the EC, and has to impose losses on bondholders, via coupon deferral (Upper Tier 2 and Tier 1), and not calling debt (all subordinated debt).

The Economist

He pinched North Sea oil companies by introducing a "fair-fuel stabiliser", which will fund a deferral of rises in fuel duty (currently a big gripe in Britain as elsewhere) through an increased levy on oil production, so long as the oil price stays high.

The Economist

They forced the government first into three big concessions in the bill and then into its deferral.

The Economist

It is not just Ukraine's free trade with Europe that is at stake, but its ability to reform and to make its own decisions about the future.Ukrainian politicians have pledged to reform their economy despite the deferral of the EU agreement, but if the past 23 years are anything to go by the chances of their doing it are slim.

The Economist

On June 26th it put off, though only for three months, a 1% rise in value-added tax that the PdL wants to avoid.In this section The occasional leader More trouble ahead Tapping along Still out on the streets Floundering on Edi's turn Europe's new frontier ReprintsThe policy emerging from this is fiscal relaxation by deferral.

The Economist

The timing of the concession will please the court's critics in Africa and elsewhere who claim that the ICC is singling out Africans with its first prosecution of a sitting head of state.It came at the same time as Kenya filed its latest request to the UN Security Council for a 12-month deferral of proceedings against Mr Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, in separate but related trials.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "deferral" in formal writing, clearly state the reason for the postponement and the expected duration.

Common error

Avoid confusing "deferral" (postponement) with "referral" (act of sending someone to another person or place for assistance). "Deferral" focuses on time, while "referral" focuses on direction.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "deferral" is as a noun, typically referring to the act of postponing or delaying something. It often functions as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI validates this usage, as observed in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academic

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "deferral" functions as a noun indicating the act of postponing or delaying something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news, business, and formal contexts. While similar to terms like "postponement" and "delay", "deferral" often implies a more formal or official suspension. Remember to use "deferral" when you want to precisely convey the notion of intentionally delaying an action or decision, especially in professional or academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponement

A more general term indicating the act of delaying something.

delay

A broad term for causing something to happen later than expected.

rescheduling

Implies rearranging the time of an event to a later date.

suspension

Suggests a temporary cessation of an activity or process.

stay of execution

A legal term referring to the temporary stopping of a judgment.

reprieve

A temporary delay of a punishment or obligation.

moratorium

A temporary prohibition of an activity.

holding pattern

Implies a state of waiting or delay before proceeding.

putting on hold

Suggests temporarily stopping or delaying something.

shelving

To defer or postpone something indefinitely.

FAQs

How is "deferral" typically used in a sentence?

The word "deferral" is usually used to indicate the act of postponing something. For example, "The committee approved a "deferral" of the decision until next month".

What's a good alternative to the word "deferral"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "postponement", "rescheduling", or "delay".

What is the difference between "deferral" and "deferment"?

"Deferral" and "deferment" are often used interchangeably to mean the act of postponing something. However, "deferment" is more commonly used in the context of military service or student loans.

In what situations is the term "deferral" commonly used?

The term "deferral" is commonly used in legal, financial, and academic contexts, often referring to the postponement of payments, decisions, or obligations.