/ˈdefərəns ||; ˈdɛfərəns/noun [U] polite behaviour that you show towards sb/sth, usually because you respect him/her 尊重；尊敬 in deference to sb/sth because you respect and do not wish to upset sb 出于尊重；为了尊重某人、不想令其不悦: In deference to her father's wishes, she didn't mention the subject again. 为了尊重父亲的意愿，她没有再提起那话题。