What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
deferral
Example
The company announced the deferral of the project until next year. [deferral: noun]
Example
I requested a deferral of my student loan payments until I find a job. [deferral: noun]
Example
The committee agreed on the deferral of the vote until the next meeting. [deferral: noun]
postponement
Example
The concert was postponed due to bad weather. [postponed: verb]
Example
The football match was postponed until next week due to a player's injury. [postponed: verb]
Example
I had to ask for a postponement of the deadline for my report due to unforeseen circumstances. [postponement: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Postponement is more commonly used than deferral in everyday language, as it covers a wider range of contexts and situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between deferral and postponement?
Deferral is more formal than postponement, as it is often used in legal or business documents and contexts.