Legal Definitions - defer

To defer means to postpone or delay an action, decision, or obligation. In a legal context, it can also mean to yield to the judgment, authority, or discretion of another party, such as a court deferring to a legislature.

The term defer has two primary meanings in a legal and general context:

• 1. To postpone or delay an action, decision, or event.

  • Example 1: A technology company decided to defer the launch of its new software update until all identified bugs were thoroughly resolved, ensuring a smoother user experience.

    Explanation: In this scenario, the company chose to delay or put off the software launch, illustrating the act of postponing an event.

  • Example 2: Due to unexpected financial hardship, a homeowner requested to defer their mortgage payment for one month, with the bank's approval.

    Explanation: Here, "defer" means to delay the scheduled payment, pushing it to a later date.

• 2. To yield to the judgment, opinion, or authority of another, often out of respect or recognition of their expertise.

  • Example: During a complex negotiation, the junior associate chose to defer to the lead attorney's strategy, trusting their extensive experience in similar cases.

    Explanation: This example shows the junior associate yielding to the senior attorney's professional judgment and authority, respecting their expertise in legal strategy.