Search results
- Dictionarydeferential/ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃl/
adjective
- 1. showing deference; respectful: "people were always deferential to him"
Powered by Oxford Dictionaries
adjective. uk / ˌdef.əˈren.ʃ ə l / us / ˌdef.əˈren.ʃ ə l / Add to word list. polite and showing respect: She is always extremely deferential towards anyone in authority. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Showing respect and admiration. admiration. admire. admiringly. approvingly. forelock. fulsomely. fulsomeness. glorify. grovelling.
: showing or expressing respect and high regard due a superior or an elder : showing or expressing deference. listened with deferential attention to his grandfather. deferential to the judge's decision. deferentially. ˌde-fə-ˈren-chə-lē. adverb. Synonyms. deferent. dutiful. regardful. respectful. See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus.
When a young person shows respect and obedience to an older person, they’re being deferential to the elder’s wisdom and experience. To be obedient, courteous, or dutiful are all ways of being deferential.
polite and showing respect: She is always extremely deferential toward anyone in authority. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Showing respect and admiration. admiration. admire. admiringly. approvingly. deify. forelock. fulsomely. fulsomeness. glorify. groveling. hallow. pedestal. philogynist. philogyny. put someone on a pedestal idiom.
deferential (towards somebody) showing that you respect somebody/something, especially somebody older or more senior than you. He was always deferential towards his mentor. a deferential tone
Someone who is deferential is polite and respectful towards someone else. They like five-star hotels and deferential treatment. We have become less deferential to authority.
Deferential definition: showing deference; deferent; respectful.. See examples of DEFERENTIAL used in a sentence.
