Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

deferent

/ˈdɛfəɹənt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.59 in modern English

Syllables: def-er-ent
IPA: /ˈdɛfəɹənt/

12

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Showing deference; deferential.

noun

A duct in the body serving to carry away from, as opposed to an afferent one.

noun

An imaginary circle surrounding the Earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the centre of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

noun

That which carries or conveys.

Obsolete

adj

Serving to carry; bearing.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds"
"Bodies deferent."

Etymology

From defer and deference; see -ent.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Prefix: -ent
Root: defferent, deferent, deferens

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈdɛfəɹənt/

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

more deferent (comparative) most deferent (superlative) deferents (plural)

Derived Forms

deferently

Frequently Paired Words

deferential epicycle

Synonyms

deferential regardful

Questions

How do you pronounce deferent?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdɛfəɹənt/.
What does deferent mean?: Showing deference; deferential.
Where does deferent come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce deferent

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “deferent”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈdɛfəɹənt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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