deferential
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deferential¹
- [ˌdɛfəˈɹɛnʃəɫ] UK
Where it comes from
From deference (or its Latin type *dēferentia) + -al; compare essence, essential; prudence, prudential, etc. Coined by Scottish novelist, poet and playwright Walter Scott.
adjective more deferential · most deferential
-
Respectful and considerate; showing deference.
In A v. UK, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights held that Part 4 of the 2001 Act was not a strictly necessary response to the acknowledged emergency evidenced by the attacks in the USA and that the detention of the applicants was in breach of Article 5. This conclusion is notewor
Opposite: derogative, derogatory
- Based on deference; based on the doctrine, ideology, or wishes of others rather than one's own conclusions.
deferential²
- [ˌdɛfəˈɹɛnʃəɫ] UK
Where it comes from
From French déférentiel, from déférent + -iel.
adjective
- Of or relating to the vas deferens.
Translations
Every language
adj showing deference
| Español | deferente |
|---|---|
| Português | deferente |
| Français | déférent |
| Deutsch | ehrerbietig |
| Italiano | deferente, deferenziale, ossequente |
| Ελληνικά | ευπειθής efpeithís, ευλαβικός evlavikós |
adj of or relating to the vas deferens
| Español | deferencial |
|---|
Talk about this word "deferential." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/deferential. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. deferential. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/deferential "deferential." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/deferential.Cite this
@misc{deferential_2026,
title = {deferential},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/deferential},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
