deflect

verb

de·​flect di-ˈflekt 

dē-

deflected; deflecting; deflects

transitive verb

: to turn (something) aside especially from a straight course or fixed direction

armor that deflects bullets

deflecting attention from the troubled economy

deflect a question

intransitive verb

: to turn aside : deviate

the shot deflected off the goalie's shoulder pad

deflectable

di-ˈflek-tə-bəl 

dē-

adjective

deflective

di-ˈflek-tiv 

dē-

adjective

deflector

di-ˈflek-tər 

dē-

noun

Synonyms

• divert
• redirect
• swing
• turn
• veer
• wheel
• whip

Examples of deflect in a Sentence

armor that can deflect bullets

The goalie deflected the ball with his hands.

The ball deflected off the goalie's shoulder.

They are trying to deflect attention from the troubled economy.

The blame was deflected from the chairman.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stones did his usual long barrier, and Odegaard’s shot deflected off his thigh and into the net. —Michael Cox, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025

Intelligent, effective opposition turns not on regarding every move Trump makes as evil and autocratic, meaning that he must be stopped by any means necessary, but on sorting out which of his goals are popular and make sense, and which need to be modified, deflected or blocked. —Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025

Eventually Mark Stone deflected home Shea Theodore’s shot at 15:09 to make it 2-1. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2025

Robert Thomas took a shot from above the right circle, and Sundqvist deflected it past Knight. —Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin deflectere to bend down, turn aside, from de- + flectere to bend

First Known Use

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

deflect

verb

de·​flect di-ˈflekt 

: to turn or cause to turn aside (as from a course, direction, or position)

a bullet deflected by striking a wall

deflection

-ˈflek-shən

noun