deferential

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/ UK /ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #87026

Meanings

1

adj
showing respectful submission to another person's authority, wishes, or judgment

The junior diplomat remained deferential while firmly stating her concerns.
2

adj
giving substantial weight to another authority's judgment or decision

The appeals court applied a deferential standard when reviewing the agency's findings.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · showing respectful... respectful submissive obsequious

2 adj · giving substantial weight... yielding accommodating

Opposites

assertive defiant disrespectful

Word family

Forms deferentially

Derived forms deferentiallynondeferential

Related forms deference deferdeferent

Etymology

Formed from deference + -ial, after French deferentiel. Deference comes through French deferer from Latin deferre, 'to carry down, report, or refer.' Its English sense developed from referring a matter to another person and then yielding respectfully to that person's judgment.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# deferential

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/
**Frequency rank:** 87026

## Meanings
1. showing respectful submission to another person's authority, wishes, or judgment
2. giving substantial weight to another authority's judgment or decision

## Examples
- The junior diplomat remained deferential while firmly stating her concerns.
- The appeals court applied a deferential standard when reviewing the agency's findings.

## Synonyms
- respectful
- submissive
- obsequious
- yielding

## Antonyms
- assertive
- defiant
- disrespectful

## Derived Forms
- deferentially
- nondeferential

## Related Forms
- deference
- defer
- deferent

## Etymology
Formed from deference + -ial, after French deferentiel. Deference comes through French deferer from Latin deferre, 'to carry down, report, or refer.' Its English sense developed from referring a matter to another person and then yielding respectfully to that person's judgment.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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