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

Wilken has rejected the NCAA’s portrayal of amateurism as inherently different and special, and thus more deserving of deferential antitrust treatment, than other businesses. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Sep. 2024

Brenna is hip and intrusive, while Muir is deferential to a fault. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 July 2024

Unlike the deferential business judgement rule, the entire fairness standard of review is an especially tough one for boards since the court will examine both procedural and substantive fairness. —Priya Cherian Huskins, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

Although South Korean President Yoon promised to back Biden’s Indo-Pacific strategy and to be less deferential toward China, his foreign minister, Park Jin, pledged in Beijing to support regional and global cooperation. —Michael Green, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2022

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

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