Words / C1

di-FUR/dɪˈfɜː/

To defer is to delay until later: defer the vote, defer payment. Postpone is a close cousin; delay is everyday. Defer to someone means accept their authority (defer to the specialist). Differ means “be unlike” — extra i, different verb. Do not write defer when you mean disagree.

Meaning

To delay something until later (defer to a date); also to accept someone else’s authority (defer to).

Examples

• “The board deferred the vote until March.”
• “The board deferred the decision until the audit landed.”
• “Juniors deferred to the consultant on the diagnosis, which is the “yield” sense.”

Good to know

Put off (defer a decision); or yield (defer to someone). Everyday: postpone / delay. Mix-up: differ (be unlike).

Near in meaning

postpone

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