What does deferrable mean?
"Deferrable" is a formal adjective meaning capable of being postponed or put off to a later time without serious harm, penalty, or breach of obligation. It applies naturally to tasks, payments, taxes, maintenance, decisions, and other obligations whose timing is flexible: an expense may be deferrable under accounting rules, a meeting deferrable because nothing urgent is on the agenda. The word carries no strong emotional connotation, but its negative form, "non-deferrable," is frequently used in administrative and financial contexts to mark duties that must be handled immediately. Derived from the verb "defer," which traces back through Old French to the Latin "differre" (to carry apart, delay), it belongs to the same family as "refer," "confer," and "transfer." Though relatively uncommon in everyday speech, it is a precise and useful term wherever scheduling and prioritization matter.
adjectiveCapable of being postponed to a later time without serious harm or consequence. Often used of tasks, payments, decisions, or expenses that can legitimately wait.
- (of a task, payment, or decision) able to be postponed to a later time without unacceptable harm or penalty.
"The auditor noted that most of the company's remaining expenses were deferrable until the next fiscal year."
"Routine maintenance was deferrable, so the crew focused on the burst pipe first."
"Some retirement contributions are deferrable, allowing you to postpone taxes until withdrawal."
In tax and accounting circles, knowing which costs are deferrable can legally shift thousands in liabilities into a future year — one adjective with real financial muscle.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of deferrable
Deferrable is formed from the verb "defer" plus the adjectival suffix "-able." The verb "defer" entered English via Old French "différer" from Latin "differre," meaning to carry apart, scatter, or delay, formed from "dis-" (apart) and "ferre" (to carry). The root "ferre" also gives us "refer," "confer," "transfer," and "differ." The adjective arose later, primarily in commercial and administrative English.
Related word forms
How deferrable is actually used
Formal to neutral register, appearing chiefly in business, finance, legal, and administrative writing. It is often used in the negative form 'non-deferrable' to flag obligations that cannot wait.
Easily confused with deferrable
Deferential means showing polite submission or respect to another person, while deferrable means able to be postponed.