deferential

adjective

def·​er·​en·​tial ˌde-fə-ˈren-chəl 

: showing or expressing respect and high regard due a superior or an elder : showing or expressing deference

listened with deferential attention to his grandfather

deferential to the judge's decision

deferentially

ˌde-fə-ˈren-chə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• deferent
• dutiful
• regardful
• respectful

Examples of deferential in a Sentence

the man had the deferential attitude of someone who had been a servant his entire life

Recent Examples on the Web

Pritchard describes a relaxed, collegial creative process – one by two legends who, if anything, might have been too deferential. —Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 7 May 2025

Many officers also think the country has become too deferential to the armed services for its own good. —Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Apr. 2025

Alston is significant because as Justice Neil Gorsuch clarified in the majority opinion, the NCAA is not owed a deferential standard of review on antitrust claims. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2025

As with his new podcast, Mr. Newsom was deferential, in awe of the ideas explained by his guest. —Laurel Rosenhall, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

defer(ence) + -ential, by analogy with other Latin-derived words where the suffixes -ence and -ential imply one another (as prudence, prudential)

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deferential

• consequential
• evidential
• existential
• exponential
• influential
• nonessential
• penitential
• precedential
• preferential
• presidential
• providential
• referential

Kids Definition

deferential

adjective

def·​er·​en·​tial ˌdef-ə-ˈren-chəl 

: showing or expressing deference

deferentially

-ˈrench-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

deferential

adjective

def·​er·​en·​tial ˌdef-ə-ˈren-chəl 

: deferent