WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
def•er•ence /ˈdɛfərəns/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
def•er•en•tial•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- respectful yielding to the will of another:In deference to her superior knowledge, I decided to follow her advice.
- respectful or courteous behavior or attitude toward:treated her with deference.
def•er•en•tial•ly, adv.
def•er•ence
(def′ər əns),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another.
- respectful or courteous regard:in deference to his wishes.
- French déférence, Middle French, equivalent. to defer(er) to defer2 + -ence -ence
- 1640–50
def•er•en•tial
(def′ə ren′shəl),USA pronunciation adj.
def′er•en′tial•ly, adv.
- showing deference;
deferent;
respectful.
- after deference, by analogy with such pairs as residence: residential 1815–25
- courteous, regardful, dutiful, obedient, reverential.
'deferentially' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):