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Glite Dictionary
deferent

deferent

7.7
Respectful and willing to accept other people's opinions
  • adjective
  • /ˈdɛfərənt/
  • Formal
translation icon : deferente
  • You look deferent.

People were treating me in a way that was like respectful and deferent.

Examples

  • She spoke in a deferent tone, showing respect for the advice given by the experienced teacher.

  • The assistant was deferent towards the manager, always listening carefully to her suggestions.

  • This suggests that the Black players were being more careful or deferent than the white players.

    Academic text (1990)

  • They're very deferent people.

    The Good Guy (2009)

  • During the meeting, he remained deferent to the opinions of his colleagues, valuing their input.

Synonyms

respectful
vsdeferent
150 1.1

Being polite and showing admiration for someone

is similar but more about yielding or following others' wishes
submissive
vsdeferent
38 5.1

Willing to obey others and not argue

is about respect yet focuses on yielding and lack of resistance
subservient
vsdeferent
14 7.6

Too willing to obey and please people with power

is respectful without extreme servility or eager subordination
deferential
vsdeferent
  • Formal
10 6.6

Being respectful and polite to someone because they are older or have more experience

is respectful but highlights yielding to others' wishes or opinions
regardful
vsdeferent
1 7.7

Respectful and careful about other people's feelings

is like respect but less about obedience, more about consideration
obeisant
vsdeferent
  • Literature
9.1

Very respectful and ready to obey someone in a formal way

is similar but stresses yielding or submissive attitude

Antonyms

disrespectful
121 3.0

Not polite to someone, for example interrupting them

insolent
22 7.1

Rude and not showing respect to other people

How Respectful

obsequious
  • Formal
7 9.3
submissive
38 5.1
deferent
  • Formal
7.7
respectful
150 1.1
polite
329 1.0

Surface Forms

deferent positive

Morphology

deferent = defer (semi-transparent) = defer + ent

The word is built from the verb 'defer' plus the adjectival suffix '-ent', but the respectful sense is only partially predictable and is somewhat lexicalized.

Etymology

Deferent comes from the Latin parts de- ('down' or 'away') and ferre ('to carry'). You can see the same fer root in transfer ('to carry across'), so to be deferent is like 'carrying' your choice away from yourself to another, which means you give way or show respect.