deference Hear it!

deference Definition

def·er·ence (def′ər əns)

noun

  1. a yielding in opinion, judgment, or wishes
  2. courteous regard or respect

Etymology: Fr déférence < L deferens, prp. of deferre: see defer

deference Idioms

in deference to

out of regard or respect for (a person or the person's position or wishes)
deference Synonyms

deference

n.

  1. Courteous regard

    respect, veneration, homage; see honor 1, reverence 1, 2.

  2. Obedience

    submission, compliance, yielding; see docility. See syn. study at honor.

deference Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • show: The culinary arts showing proper deference a lot tougher pizza boxes on.
  • pay: Why did he have to pay deference to Hanover in his foreign policy?
  • give: It is the Lord that you must give deference to.
  • expect: He was not deferential to his seniors and did not expect deference from his juniors.
  • feel: Many automatically feel a certain deference in their presence.
  • require: It requires deference to authority and acceptance of fixed ideas, whereas science requires authority to be continually overthrown in favor of better ideas.

Preposition: for

  • authority: I think in our rough crude way we Australians do not have that worry or that undue deference for authority.

Adjective modifier

  • due: He will take care that all due deference to be paid to his teachers by his pupils.
  • less: They are likely to be pragmatic rather than ideological and there is less deference to ' authoritative ' figures.
  • great: But in other respects the emperor showed his mother, Helena, the greatest deference.
  • social: It is not less social deference that is needed but more.
  • much: We have no whole oats, " the Steward replied, with much deference.

Preposition: in

  • society: But even that should be viewed against a broader canvas of the collapse of deference in society as a whole.