deferment

noun

de·​fer·​ment di-ˈfər-mənt How to pronounce deferment (audio)
: the act of delaying or postponing
specifically : official postponement of military service

Examples of deferment in a Sentence

She requested a six-month deferment on her loan. She requested deferment of her loan. the policies of military deferment
Recent Examples on the Web The account adjustment allows past periods of repayment, and some periods of deferment and forbearance, to also count toward loan forgiveness through PSLF (as well as IDR). Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 In the decade of relative peace following the Korean War, the system had begun granting too many deferments, which were disproportionately used by white and wealthy Americans. Juan Quiroz, Foreign Affairs, 5 Jan. 2024 Under the account adjustment, many past periods of repayment under any plan (including non-IDR plans), as well as some deferment and forbearance periods, can count toward IDR loan forgiveness as if the borrower had been in an IDR plan. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Trump avoided being drafted into the Vietnam War due to five deferments, one for bone spurs and four for education. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024 Trump himself received a draft deferment that exempted him from serving in Vietnam. Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 11 Jan. 2024 Nine months later, against his mother’s wishes, Lear gave up an academic deferment, dropped out, and enlisted in the military. Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Dec. 2023 Forbearance and deferment can be crucial tools to help keep you from becoming delinquent on your loans. The New York Times, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024 Russian men between the ages of 18 and 27 are required to serve one year in the military, although a large number of them don’t do so citing health reasons or deferment due to university. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 5 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deferment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

defer entry 1 + -ment

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deferment was in 1607

Dictionary Entries Near deferment

Cite this Entry

“Deferment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deferment. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deferment

noun
de·​fer·​ment di-ˈfər-mənt How to pronounce deferment (audio)
: the act of delaying
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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