Definitions
- Referring to delaying or postponing a task or action that needs to be done. - Talking about putting off work or responsibilities until the last minute. - Describing a habit of avoiding tasks or decisions that require effort or discomfort.
- Referring to delaying or postponing a decision or action until a later time. - Talking about giving someone else the authority or responsibility to make a decision. - Describing a respectful or polite way of declining an invitation or request.
List of Similarities
- 1Both involve delaying or postponing something.
- 2Both can be used in professional or academic settings.
- 3Both can have negative consequences if not managed properly.
What is the difference?
- 1Intention: Procrastinate implies a lack of motivation or discipline, while defer suggests a deliberate decision to delay for a specific reason.
- 2Responsibility: Procrastinate implies personal responsibility for the delay, while defer may involve delegating responsibility to someone else.
- 3Connotation: Procrastinate has a negative connotation and is associated with laziness or irresponsibility, while defer has a neutral or even positive connotation and is associated with respect or courtesy.
- 4Timing: Procrastinate usually involves delaying until the last minute, while defer can involve delaying for a longer period of time.
- 5Type of task: Procrastinate is often associated with unpleasant or difficult tasks, while defer can apply to any type of task or decision.
Remember this!
Procrastinate and defer both involve delaying or postponing something, but they differ in their intention, responsibility, connotation, timing, and type of task. Procrastinate implies a lack of motivation or discipline and personal responsibility for the delay, while defer suggests a deliberate decision to delay for a specific reason and may involve delegating responsibility to someone else. Procrastinate has a negative connotation and is associated with laziness or irresponsibility, while defer has a neutral or even positive connotation and is associated with respect or courtesy.
