deferral

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US/dɪˈfɝəl/UK/dɪˈfɜːɹəl/UK[dɪˈfɜːɹəɫ]

noun

An act of deferring, a deferment.

Similar
defermentrecesspostponement
OriginProto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? ← English defer →
Less commonScrabble 12
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Meanings

noundeferral (countable and uncountable, plural deferrals)

plural deferrals

  1. countableuncountableAn act of deferring, a deferment.

    Synonyms: deferment

  2. countableuncountableA prepayment.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAn act of deferring, a deferment.

Similar
deferment

More synonyms by meaning

nouna state of abeyance or suspended business

Similar
recess
Broader
abeyancesuspension

nounact of putting off to a future time

Similar
postponementdeferment
Broader
delayholdup
Also see
accrualadjournmentdefermentdemurralpostponementprocrastinationprolongationprotractionrecess

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishdefer
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  4. Englishdeferral

From defer + -al.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German Verzögerung, Zögern
  • Verzögerungact of deferring
  • Zögernact of deferring
Italian spostamento, differimento
  • spostamentoact of deferring
  • differimentoact of deferring
Portuguese adiamento
  • adiamentoact of deferring
Spanish prórroga
  • prórrogaact of deferring

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with deferral

referralconferraltransferaldemurral
All rhymes →

Anagrams

Alderfer
Cite this entry
APA

deferral. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deferral

MLA

“deferral.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deferral. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deferral,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deferral.

Source: deferral on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.