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deflect
[ dih-flekt ]
verb (used with or without object)
- to bend or turn aside; turn from a true course or straight line; swerve.
deflect
/ dɪˈflɛkt /
verb
- to turn or cause to turn aside from a course; swerve
Derived Forms
- deˈflector, noun
Other Word Forms
- de·flecta·ble adjective
- de·flector noun
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of deflect1
Example Sentences
"This is nothing more than a cynical PR stunt… an attempt to deflect from its own well-documented atrocities against the Sudanese people and its refusal to cease fire or engage in genuine negotiations."
Stevenson seemed to deliberately deflect attention from Stephen’s words, mumbling lines as though they were the character’s private property and not meant to be spoken aloud.
It’s hard with Chelsea because she does a lot of deflecting through the spirituality and all of that stuff that makes her seem more wise than she actually is.
In both cases, the fenders absorbed and deflected the energy, but the 2007 collision, with an oil tanker, damaged the fenders and the ship, causing it to spill more than 53,000 gallons of oil.
This is when light is deflected by small particles - such as those in Earth's atmosphere.
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More About Deflect
What does deflect mean?
To deflect something is to redirect it—to cause it to move in a direction that’s different from the course it had been on, as in The goalie was able to deflect the ball away from the goal.
Deflect can also be used in a passive way meaning for something to have its course changed, as in The ball deflected after hitting the goalie’s outstretched hand.
Deflect can also be used in a figurative way meaning to do something to avoid questioning or scrutiny, as in When asked about the scandal, the senator deflected by giving a vague answer and changing the subject.
The act or process of deflecting is deflection, which can be used for both the literal and figurative senses of deflect (and more technical uses).
Example: The meteor is headed straight for Earth—our only chance is to deflect it using the space laser!
Where does deflect come from?
The first records of the word deflect come from the mid-1500s. It comes from the Latin dēflectere, “to bend down” or “to turn aside,” from flectere, “to bend” or “to turn” (the same root is used in the word reflect). The prefix de- is used to indicate a reversal or undoing.
The literal sense of deflect is often used in the description of sports action—players deflect balls and pucks to prevent them from entering the goal, the hoop, or another player’s hands. Such deflections are often slight—the ball or puck changes direction only slightly. But deflecting something can sometimes cause it to move in the complete opposite direction, as in The goalie deflected the ball right back at the striker, who then easily kicked it in the goal.
When you deflect questions or a line of inquiry, you dodge or evade it, often by changing the subject. Politicians are especially known for deflecting questions about things they’d rather not talk about. This figurative sense of deflect is often used in a way that implies that such actions are dishonest.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to deflect?
- deflection (noun)
- deflector (noun)
- deflectable (adjective)
What are some synonyms for deflect?
What are some words that share a root or word element with deflect?
What are some words that often get used in discussing deflect?
How is deflect used in real life?
Deflect is commonly used in both literal and figurative ways. When used figuratively, it’s usually negative.
GOAL Huddersfield 1-2 Arsenal (90+3 mins)
Monreal looks to have deflected the ball into his own net to give Huddersfield a late, late lifeline#PL #HUDARS
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 9, 2019
Trump has now repeatedly deflected questions about Russian hacking with responses about speculating about Chinese hacking.
— David Rothschild (@DavMicRot) January 11, 2017
Belichick deflected questions about Revis, then decided to just start talking about the #Bears pic.twitter.com/rNcDWOh38U
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 24, 2014
Try using deflect!
Which of the following scenarios includes an example of deflecting?
A. John shoots the basketball, but Jane blocks it before it can reach the rim.
B. A rock falls from a dump truck and bounces off a car’s windshield.
C. Justin’s dad asks him if he passed his math test, and Justin responds by asking what’s for dinner.
D. All of the above.
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