deferred

1 of 2

adjective

de·​ferred di-ˈfərd How to pronounce deferred (audio)
Synonyms of deferred
1
: withheld for or until a stated time
a deferred payment
2
: charged in cases of delayed handling
telegraphs sent at deferred rates

deferred

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of defer entry 1, defer entry 2

Examples of deferred in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The city’s proposal includes a temporary change to the pension plan that would allow eligible firefighters with 20 years of service to enter a deferred retirement option, reducing the current 25-year service requirement. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026 Hayes entered Alford pleas and received a deferred disposition with two years of supervised probation. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, Miller and another former Loretto executive, Heather Bergdahl, have entered into generous deferred prosecution deals that will leave them without a conviction and kept any admissions related to their conduct from being publicly filed. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 According to the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, an organization that works to preserve Wright’s projects, the home’s current state stems from years of deferred maintenance. — News Desk, Artforum, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deferred

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of defer entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deferred was in 1651

Phrases Containing deferred

Rhymes for deferred

See All Rhymes for deferred

Browse Nearby Words

deferral
deferred
deferred bond
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Cite this Entry

“Deferred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deferred. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Legal Definition

deferred

adjective
de·​ferred
di-ˈfərd
: withheld or delayed for or until a stated time
a deferred payment
deferred prosecution

More from Merriam-Webster on deferred

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