What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
refract
Example
The pencil looked bent in the glass of water due to the way the light refracted. [refracted: past tense]
Example
The telescope uses lenses to refract light and produce clear images of distant objects. [refract: verb]
deflect
Example
The bullet was deflected by the metal plate, saving the soldier's life. [deflected: past tense]
Example
She tried to deflect the conversation away from her personal life and onto a more neutral topic. [deflect: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deflect is more commonly used than refract in everyday language. Deflect is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while refract is less common and typically used in scientific or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between refract and deflect?
Refract is more formal than deflect. It is typically used in scientific or technical writing and may not be familiar to ESL learners who are not studying these fields.
