1. respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, or will of another

Examples

• She showed deference to her elderly professor’s expertise.
• In deference to local customs, visitors removed their shoes.
• The young lawyer spoke with deference to the senior partner.
• He bowed his head in deference to the judge.
• Out of deference to her wishes, we postponed the meeting.
• The student’s deference to authority impressed the principal.