deferential
[ˌdɛfəˈɹɛnʃəɫ]
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.38 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
4
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
adj
Based on deference; based on the doctrine, ideology, or wishes of others rather than one's own conclusions.
adj
Of or relating to the vas deferens.
Example Sentences
- "In A v. UK, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights held that Part 4 of the 2001 Act was not a strictly necessary response to the acknowledged emergency evidenced by the attacks in the USA and that the detention of the applicants was in breach of Article 5. This conclusion is noteworthy given that the European Court has in the past adopted a deferential if not supine approach when assessing the legality of derogations under Article 15."
- "The oscillations were getting so severe that painters on the bridge learned to tie down their tins before a train passed. They found holes and rents in the iron but never reported them as they were never asked, and it wasn't their job. These were deferential times, and few wanted to talk out of turn."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- British English: [ˌdɛfəˈɹɛnʃəɫ]
Inflected Forms
more deferential (comparative)
most deferential (superlative)