Definitions
- Referring to the act of postponing or delaying something to a later time or date. - Describing the act of yielding to someone else's opinion or decision. - Talking about the act of submitting to a higher authority or power.
- Referring to the act of putting off or postponing something to a later time or date. - Describing the state of being behind schedule or not on time. - Talking about the act of hindering or slowing down progress or development.
List of Similarities
- 1Both defer and delay involve postponing or putting off something.
- 2Both can be used to describe situations where things are not happening as planned.
- 3Both can have negative connotations, suggesting that something is not happening as it should.
What is the difference?
- 1Cause: Defer implies a voluntary decision to postpone something, while delay can be caused by external factors beyond one's control.
- 2Duration: Defer suggests a temporary delay, while delay can be short or long-term.
- 3Intention: Defer implies a willingness to wait for a better time or situation, while delay can suggest procrastination or avoidance.
- 4Responsibility: Defer implies taking responsibility for the decision to postpone, while delay can suggest blame or fault for not meeting a deadline or expectation.
- 5Usage: Defer is more formal and often used in professional or academic contexts, while delay is more common in everyday language.
Remember this!
While both defer and delay refer to postponing or putting off something, there are differences in their cause, duration, intention, responsibility, and usage. Defer implies a voluntary decision to postpone something temporarily, often with the intention of waiting for a better time or situation. On the other hand, delay can be caused by external factors beyond one's control and can be short or long-term. It can also suggest procrastination or avoidance and may imply blame or fault for not meeting a deadline or expectation. Additionally, defer is more formal and often used in professional or academic contexts, while delay is more common in everyday language.
