deference

noun
UK: /ˈdefərəns/
US: /ˈdefərəns/

  1. Polite behavior that shows you respect someone or something.

    1. He treats her with deference because she's his boss.
    2. Show some deference to your elders; they have more life experience than you.

  2. Behavior indicating respect and esteem for a superior.

    1. The soldiers showed deference to their commanding officer.
    2. Out of deference to his father's wishes, he didn't become a musician.

Synonyms

courtesy veneration reverence submission respect

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "deference" in English means: Polite behavior that shows you respect someone or something., Behavior indicating respect and esteem for a superior..

The phonetic transcription of "deference" is /ˈdefərəns/ in British English and /ˈdefərəns/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "deference": courtesy, veneration, reverence, submission, respect.

Example usage of "deference": "He treats her with deference because she's his boss.". More examples on the page.