deferred indefinitely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deferred indefinitely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been put off for an uncertain period of time. For example, "Due to recent events, the company's decision to hire new employees has been deferred indefinitely."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

The apocalypse has been deferred indefinitely.

The New York Times

But the question can't be deferred indefinitely.

The New Yorker

Thus, as long as profits are held abroad, United States taxes are deferred indefinitely.

The New York Times

Of course, the Government's duty to enforce the immigration laws should not be deferred indefinitely.

Cornell University

At the same time, nominees who are regarded as highly conservative are being deferred indefinitely.

The New York Times

The actual work of constructing a hiring hall has been deferred indefinitely, a spokeswoman said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

The statement did not specify how it arrived at $5 billion, nor did it address the issue of deferred taxes, which the company may pay in future years or decide to defer indefinitely.

The New York Times

She also wants to scrap a programme that allows firms to defer indefinitely the payment of tax on their reinvested profits.

The Economist

"New Tension Over Taiwan" (editorial, Feb. 23) calls for Beijing to defer indefinitely its demand for the return of its island province.

The New York Times

They can defer indefinitely, not avoid entirely, the tax burden on capital gains they earn through the forced sale of assets that could pose conflicts of interest.

The Washington Post

The second would allow companies to defer indefinitely paying taxes on their overseas leasing businesses, especially the profits from the leasing of commercial aircraft, a business in which GE is a world leader.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deferred indefinitely" when you want to emphasize that a decision or action has been postponed without any specific plans to revisit it in the near future. This indicates a potentially long-term or even permanent delay.

Common error

While "deferred indefinitely" is widely understood, avoid using it repeatedly in formal documents. Vary your language with synonyms like "postponed indefinitely" or "suspended without a known end date" to maintain reader engagement and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deferred indefinitely" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the extent of the deferral. It indicates that the action or decision has been postponed without a set date for resumption, as Ludwig's examples clearly show.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "deferred indefinitely" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that a decision or action has been postponed without a specific date for resumption. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is acceptable in written English and widely used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While versatile, it is crucial to be aware of its formal tone and avoid overuse by alternating with synonyms like "postponed indefinitely" or "delayed without a set date". When employing this phrase, ensure your message clearly conveys the uncertainty surrounding the postponed matter.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponed indefinitely

Replaces "deferred" with "postponed", a direct synonym, maintaining the meaning of indefinite delay.

put on hold indefinitely

Uses a more colloquial term "put on hold" to indicate suspension without a fixed resumption date.

delayed without a set date

Substitutes both words with alternatives, focusing on the absence of a defined timeline.

suspended without a known end date

Replaces "deferred" with "suspended" and clarifies the indefinite nature with "without a known end date".

tabled indefinitely

Uses "tabled", meaning to postpone discussion of a topic, without a specified future discussion date.

shelved for the foreseeable future

Implies the action is unlikely to occur soon, adding a sense of long-term postponement.

put off until further notice

Suggests postponement with the possibility of future reconsideration, but no specific timeframe.

indefinitely on ice

A more idiomatic alternative that suggests the matter has been stopped, without intention to resume.

adjourned sine die

Employs the Latin term "sine die", which means "without a day" set for resumption, adding a formal tone.

kicked down the road indefinitely

A more informal alternative expressing the action has been delayed for now.

FAQs

How can I use "deferred indefinitely" in a sentence?

You can use "deferred indefinitely" to indicate that something has been postponed without a specific date for resumption. For example, "The project's completion date has been "deferred indefinitely" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What is a more formal alternative to "deferred indefinitely"?

A more formal alternative could be "adjourned sine die", which is a Latin term meaning "without a day" set for resumption. However, use it in contexts where Latin terms are appropriate.

Is "deferred indefinitely" the same as "canceled"?

No, "deferred indefinitely" implies postponement with a possibility of future reconsideration, while "canceled" means the action will not occur at all. The first is a temporary situation, the second is a definitive one.

What does it mean when something is "put on hold indefinitely"?

"Put on hold indefinitely" is similar to ""deferred indefinitely"". It means that something has been suspended or delayed without a specific timeline for when it will be resumed. It suggests a state of uncertainty regarding its future.