deflection

noun

de·​flec·​tion di-ˈflek-shən 

dē-

1

: a turning aside or off course : deviation

2

: the departure of an indicator or pointer from the zero reading on the scale of an instrument

Synonyms

• departure
• detour
• deviation
• divagation
• divergence
• divergency
• diversion

Examples of deflection in a Sentence

measuring the angle of deflection

He scored with a deflection off another player's stick.

Recent Examples on the Web

After controlling a looping ball from Morgan Gibbs-White, Wood used his strength to escape two defenders and found the bottom corner, with the aid of a slight deflection off Calvin Bassey, for his 18th goal of the campaign across all competitions. —Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025

But Roan isn’t letting this deflection slide — and neither are her fellow musicians. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2025

Only 33 seconds after the puck dropped, winger Sonny Christian scored on a deflection off defenseman Griffin Faherty’s shot. —Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 9 Feb. 2025

Waiting for additional observations in 2028 would leave little time to develop a deflection mission. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

deflection

noun

de·​flec·​tion di-ˈflek-shən 

1

: a turning aside or deviation from a straight line

2

: the departure of an indicator or pointer from the zero reading on the scale of an instrument

deflect

di-ˈflekt 

verb