Is deference formal or informal?

What's the difference between deference and respect?

How do I use deference in a sentence?

Is deference common in academic writing?

← Dictionary

deference

/dɪˈfɛrəns/

IELTSAcademic

noun

Respectful submission or yielding to the wishes of others or to norms; polite compliance without losing your own voice.

I spoke with deference to her expertise.
Out of deference, they waited quietly.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: deference is more respectful and submissive than agreement; it differs from obedience by being voluntary and polite, and from compliance by focusing on respect rather than strict duty. Use it when you yield politely rather than simply following orders.

In other languages

Spanish: Deferencia
Japanese: 敬意
Korean: 공경
Vietnamese: Sự tôn trọng
Chinese: 尊重

Etymology

Late Middle English: from Latin deferentia ‘carrying down’, related to defer.

Common phrases

show deference toout of deferencein deference to

Synonyms

respect politeness compliancy yielding humility

Frequently asked questions

Is deference formal or informal?: Is deference formal or informal?
What's the difference between deference and respect?: What's the difference between deference and respect?
How do I use deference in a sentence?: How do I use deference in a sentence?
Is deference common in academic writing?: Is deference common in academic writing?