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Definition of deferment

deferment

/dɪˈfɜːrmənt/
de · fer · ment
Plural:deferments
•
Adjective:deferrable
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deferment Lexical Profile

deferment Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American An official sanction allowing someone to temporarily postpone a mandatory obligation, such as compulsory military service or the repayment of a student loan.

Example

"After enrolling in graduate school full-time, she applied for a student loan deferment to pause her monthly payments."

2

The action or fact of putting something off to a later time; a postponement.

Example

"The committee approved the deferment of the construction project until the next fiscal year."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for deferment
Antonyms
View all antonyms for deferment

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'deferment' and 'deferral' are largely synonymous, 'deferment' is traditionally preferred in institutional contexts such as student loan repayments and military draft postponements, whereas 'deferral' is more common in general finance, tax accounting, and college admissions.

• Rhymes for deferment

• Nearby Words

deferable
deference
deferential
deferment
deferrable
deferral
deferred

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from the verb 'defer' and the suffix '-ment', tracing back to Old French 'deferer' and Latin 'differre', meaning 'to carry apart' or 'to put off'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Deferment. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/deferment
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