deferential

Respectful and considerate; showing deference.

Adjective

  1. Respectful and considerate; showing deference.
    • In A v. UK, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights held that Part 4 of the 2001 Act was not a strictly necessary response to the acknowledged emergency evidenced by the attacks in the USA and that the...
    • The oscillations were getting so severe that painters on the bridge learned to tie down their tins before a train passed. They found holes and rents in the iron but never reported them as they were never asked, and it...

    Antonyms: derogative derogatory

  2. Based on deference; based on the doctrine, ideology, or wishes of others rather than one's own conclusions.

Origin

From deference (or its Latin type *dēferentia) + -al; compare essence, essential; prudence, prudential, etc. Coined by Scottish novelist, poet and playwright Walter Scott.

Forms

more deferential most deferential

Related

defer deference deferent

Derived

deferentialism deferentially nondeferential undeferential

Adjective anatomy, medicine

  1. Of or relating to the vas deferens.

Origin

From French déférentiel, from déférent + -iel.

Derived

epididymodeferential