What does deference mean?

Definitions for deference
ˈdɛf ər ənsdef·er·ence

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word deference.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. deference, respectnoun

    a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard

    "his deference to her wishes was very flattering"; "be sure to give my respects to the dean"

  2. deference, respect, respectfulnessnoun

    courteous regard for people's feelings

    "in deference to your wishes"; "out of respect for his privacy"

  3. complaisance, compliance, compliancy, obligingness, deferencenoun

    a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others

Wiktionary

  1. deferencenoun

    Great respect.

    The children treated their elders with deference.

  2. deferencenoun

    The willingness to carry out the wishes of others.

    By tidying his room, he showed deference to his mother.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Deferencenoun

    Etymology: deference, French.

    Virgil could have excelled Varius in tragedy, and Quintus Horatius Flaccus in lyric poetry, but out of deference to his friends he attempted neither. John Dryden, Juven. Dedicat.

    He may be convinced that he is in an error, by observing those persons, for whose wisdom and goodness he has the greatest deference, to be of a contrary sentiment. Jonathan Swift.

    A natural roughness makes a man uncomplaisant to others; so that he has no deference for their inclinations, tempers, or conditions. John Locke.

    Most of our fellow-subjects are guided either by the prejudice of education, or a deference to the judgment of those who, perhaps, in their own hearts, disapprove the opinions which they industriously spread among the multitude. Addison.

Wikipedia

  1. Deference

    Deference (also called submission or passivity) is the condition of submitting to the espoused, legitimate influence of one's superior or superiors. Deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior, out of respect or reverence. Deference has been studied extensively by political scientists, sociologists, and psychologists.

ChatGPT

  1. deference

    Deference is the respectful submission or yielding to the opinion, judgment, or actions of another person. It is showing courteous regard for others by acknowledging their value or importance, often demonstrated through actions, gestures, or attitudes. Deference can also refer to the act of giving way to someone else out of respect or to acknowledge their authority.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Deferencenoun

    a yielding of judgment or preference from respect to the wishes or opinion of another; submission in opinion; regard; respect; complaisance

Wikidata

  1. Deference

    Deference is the condition of submitting to the espoused, legitimate influence of one's superior or superiors. Deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior out of respect or reverence. Deference has been studied extensively by political scientists, sociologists, and psychologists.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of deference in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of deference in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of deference in a Sentence

  1. Francis Maitland Balfour:

    The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.

  2. Walter Savage Landor:

    Great men always pay deference to greater.

  3. Joanne Lin:

    From the beginning, this administration has sent the message that State John Sullivan will no longer prioritize efforts to hold the global community to account for human rights, reports of the omission of key passages pertaining to sexual and reproductive rights, women's rights and the rights of marginalized populations, combined with the Administration's deference to known human rights violators like the governments of Saudi Arabia and Turkey, make us skeptical that these reports present a full picture of human rights around the world.

  4. Francis Maitland Balfour:

    The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness to an opponent, tolerance to a friend, your heart to your child, a good example to a father, deference to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you to yourself, respect to all men, charity.

  5. Saeed Haddadian:

    I went to Syria to show respect, admiration and deference to the fighters, they do what we only speak about.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

deference#10000#35828#100000

Translations for deference

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"deference." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/deference>.

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1 Comment
  • David Mutsakani
    David Mutsakani
    i get it
    LikeReply4 years ago

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