deferment

noun

de·​fer·​ment di-ˈfər-mənt How to pronounce deferment (audio)
Synonyms of defermentnext
: the act of delaying or postponing
specifically : official postponement of military service

Examples of deferment in a Sentence

She requested a six-month deferment on her loan. She requested deferment of her loan. the policies of military deferment
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Federal loans allow in-school deferment as long as you are enrolled at least half time. — Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026 Compare available hardship forbearance, deferment and other payment-relief options. — Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 The offer from the Red Sox that Bregman turned down was for five years and $165 million (with deferments). — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026 This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment, grace period, or forbearance. — Dan Avery, CNBC, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for deferment

Word History

Etymology

defer entry 1 + -ment

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deferment was in 1607

Phrases Containing deferment

Rhymes for deferment

See All Rhymes for deferment

Browse Nearby Words

deferentiality
deferment
deferrable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deferment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deferment. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

deferment

noun
de·​fer·​ment di-ˈfər-mənt How to pronounce deferment (audio)
: the act of delaying

More from Merriam-Webster on deferment

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