deferential

adjective
UK: /ˌdefəˈrenʃəl/
US: /ˌdefəˈrenʃəl/

  1. Showing respect and politeness.

    1. He is always deferential to his elders.
    2. The staff were always deferential to the chairman and treated him with great respect, almost bowing to him.

Synonyms

respectful polite reverent courteous
deferential adverb

  1. In a way that shows respect and politeness.

    1. She spoke deferentially to her boss.
    2. He listened deferentially, nodding occasionally as the speaker continued his explanation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Synonyms for "deferential": respectful, polite, reverent, courteous.

Example usage of "deferential": "He is always deferential to his elders.". More examples on the page.