Defer - meaning & definition in Lingvanex Dictionary

Meaning & Definition

verb

to put off (action) to a future time; to postpone.

We have decided to defer the meeting until next week.

to yield respectfully in judgment or opinion to the wishes or decisions of another.

I will defer to your expertise on this matter.

to submit to another's wishes, opinion, or decision.

The committee chose to defer to the board for the final decision.

Middle English, from Latin 'differre', meaning 'to carry apart, delay' (dif- + ferre 'to carry').

defer to:

To submit to the judgment or decision of another.

defer payment:

To postpone the payment due.

defer action:

To delay taking action on an issue.

To push something off for later, often used in a casual context.

I'll just defer that assignment until tomorrow.