deferred

1 of 2

adjective

de·​ferred di-ˈfərd 

1

: withheld for or until a stated time

a deferred payment

2

: charged in cases of delayed handling

telegraphs sent at deferred rates

deferred

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of defer entry 1, defer entry 2

Examples of deferred in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The order directs the Treasury Department to defer payment without interest or penalties, and to explore ways to eliminate the deferred bill entirely. — Steven John, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

The Internal Revenue Service will only enforce the deferred tax liability if it is directed to do so by the Treasury secretary and the president, the official said. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

The hoarder’s house functions as the deferred dream, the repository of all frustration. — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

The Forest Service also has a substantial backlog of deferred road maintenance, with the agency estimating that cost at more than $9 billion. — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of defer entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing deferred

• tax-deferred

Rhymes for deferred

• afterword
• firebird
• hummingbird
• ladybird
• mockingbird
• overheard
• thunderbird
• undergird
• undeterred
• absurd
• averred
• bluebird

Legal Definition

deferred

adjective

de·​ferred

di-ˈfərd

: withheld or delayed for or until a stated time

a deferred payment

deferred prosecution