deferred

American  

[dih-furd] / dɪˈfɜrd /

adjective

1. postponed or delayed.

2. suspended or withheld for or until a certain time or event.

   a deferred payment; deferred taxes.

3. classified as temporarily exempt from induction into military service.

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deferred British  

/ dɪˈfɜːd /

adjective

1. withheld over a certain period; postponed

   a deferred payment

2. (of shares) ranking behind other types of shares for dividend

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Other Word Forms

• undeferred
  adjective
• well-deferred
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of deferred

First recorded in 1645–55; defer ¹ + -ed ²

Example Sentences

With a reverse mortgage, the interest is deferred and added to the value of the loan.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

The changes announced Wednesday mean UBS won’t immediately face an $11 billion deduction from its $71 billion capital related to certain intangible assets such as software and deferred tax assets, as some analysts had predicted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

The county's medical examiner said the body was "severely decomposed" and deferred on making a ruling on how she died pending the death investigation.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

By comparison, $125 million was “a bargain for the county,” said Govan, “Because they had the liability of ownership of those buildings and the deferred maintenance was extraordinary.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

But my dream had to be deferred, for I learned very quickly of the extensive plans that the ANC had for me, and none of them involved a relaxing journey to the Transkei.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• delayed
• negotiated
• postponed