noun

deference

deference, respect, submission

He treated her with great deference.

He treated her with great deference.

In deference to his wishes, we did not speak.

In deference to his wishes, we did not speak.

((in deference to sb./sth.)) out of respect for sb./sth. In deference to his wishes, we did not speak.

((with deference)) respectfully He treated her with great deference.

Synonyms: respect, reverence, submission; Antonyms: disrespect, defiance

From the verb 'defer' (to yield). The suffix '-ence' forms a noun indicating a state or quality.

Think of it as the respect you show when you 'defer' to someone's opinion or authority.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.