different between defer vs putoff

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??f??(?)/
• Rhymes: -??(r)
• (US) IPA^(key): /d??f?/
• Hyphenation: de?fer

Etymology 1

Originally a variant of (and hence a doublet of) differ; from Middle English differren (“to postpone”), from Old French differer, from Latin differ?.

Verb

defer (third-person singular simple present defers, present participle deferring, simple past and past participle deferred)

1. (transitive) To delay or postpone
   1. (especially more common, historically) to postpone induction into military service.
2. (American football) After winning the opening coin toss, to postpone until the start of the second half a team's choice of whether to kick off or receive (and to allow the opposing team to make this choice at the start of the first half).
3. (intransitive) To delay, to wait.

Derived terms

• deferral
• deferment

Related terms

• differ

Translations

Etymology 2

From late Middle English differren (“to refer for judgement”), from Middle French déférer, from Latin d?fer?.

Verb

defer (third-person singular simple present defers, present participle deferring, simple past and past participle deferred)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To submit to the opinion or desire of another in respect to their judgment or authority.
2. To render, to offer.
   • 1872, Daniel Brevint, Saul and Samuel at Endor

     worship deferred to the Virgin

Derived terms

• deference

Translations

Anagrams

• freed, refed

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /?de?.fer/, [?d?e?f?r]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /?de.fer/, [?d???f?r]

Verb

d?fer

1. second-person singular present active imperative of d?fer?

English

Etymology

From the verb phrase put off.

Noun

putoff (plural putoffs)

1. An excuse made to delay or stall.

Anagrams

• off-put, offput