Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

deft

/dɛft/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.87 in modern English

Syllables: deft
IPA: /dɛft/

8

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Quick and neat in action; skillful.

Example Sentences

"He assembled it in one fluid, deft motion."
"Alvarez then got on the scoresheet after the hosts carved open the Huddersfield defence with some intricate passing before the Argentina forward's deft finish rolled into the net."

Etymology

From Middle English defte, daft (“gentle”), from Old English dæfte (“mild, gentle, meek”), from Proto-West Germanic *daftī (“fitting, suitable”), derived from *dabaną (“to be suitable”). Near cognates include Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐍉𐍆𐍃 (gadōfs, “suitable”), West Frisian deftich (“distinguished”), Dutch deftig (“distinguished”), German deftig (“coarse”). Further cognates include Russian добро (dobro, “wealth, good”) and Latin faber (“craftsman; skillful”). Doublet of daft.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: defte, dæfte, *daftī

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /dɛft/
British English: /dɛft/

Inflected Forms

defter (comparative) deftest (superlative)

Derived Forms

defthanded deftly deftness undeft

Phrases

deft-handed

Frequently Paired Words

daft

Synonyms

dexterous dextrous

Rhymes With

left theft cleft bereft heft tefft antitheft kreft eft weft effed reft

Questions

How do you pronounce deft?: The recorded pronunciation is /dɛft/.
What does deft mean?: Quick and neat in action; skillful.
Where does deft come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce deft

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “deft”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/dɛft/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “deft”.
Repeat and practice — Say “deft” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.