What does deferable mean?
Deferable is a formal adjective describing something that can legitimately be postponed to a later time, typically without penalty, loss, or adverse consequences. It derives from the verb 'to defer,' which comes from the Latin 'deferre,' meaning to carry away or put off. The word appears most often in financial, legal, and administrative settings: accountants speak of deferable expenses and deferable income when discussing tax treatment, while managers may label certain tasks deferable when prioritizing workloads. Its counterpart in everyday speech would simply be something that 'can wait.' The spelling 'deferrable,' with a double r, is a widely accepted variant, and writers should choose one form and apply it consistently. Because it signals that delay is permissible rather than negligent, calling something deferable often implies a considered judgment about urgency. Though uncommon in casual conversation, it is a precise and useful term whenever formal classification of what must happen now versus later matters.
adjectiveCapable of being postponed or put off to a later time without serious harm or penalty.
- Capable of being postponed or delayed to a later time, especially without penalty or harm.
"Most household repairs are deferable, but a leaking roof is not."
"The committee classified several projects as deferable and focused its budget on urgent needs."
"Contributions to a retirement plan are often deferable until withdrawal at retirement age."
Accountants love this word: in tax law, whether an expense is 'deferable' can mean the difference between paying now and paying later.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of deferable
Deferable comes from the verb 'defer,' borrowed into English from Latin via Old French in the late Middle English period. The underlying Latin verb 'deferre' combines 'de-' (away, down) with 'ferre' (to carry), so the original sense was literally 'to carry away' or 'put off.' From 'defer' came the adjective-forming suffix '-able,' yielding 'deferable,' alongside related words such as 'deference,' 'deferential,' and 'deferral.' The root 'ferre' also gives English many other words, including 'conference,' 'transfer,' and 'refer.'
How deferable is actually used
'Deferable' is chiefly used in formal, financial, legal, and administrative contexts, such as taxation and project management. The spelling 'deferrable' is equally common and accepted. It carries a neutral, practical connotation rather than any emotional coloring.
Easily confused with deferable
'Deferrable' (with two r's) is simply a common variant spelling of 'deferable'; both mean capable of being postponed.
'Deplorable' means shockingly bad or worthy of condemnation, whereas 'deferable' merely describes something that can be postponed.