deflection
noun
de·flec·tion
di-ˈflek-shən 
dē-
1
: a turning aside or off course : deviation
2
: the departure of an indicator or pointer from the zero reading on the scale of an instrument
Examples of deflection in a Sentence
measuring the angle of deflection
He scored with a deflection off another player's stick.
Recent Examples on the Web
Last season, Kennedy had 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, two pass deflections and a forced fumble.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
Fifty-fifty balls, deflections, getting in the passing lanes.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 21 June 2025
That first leg ended 1-0 — a slim aggregate lead — and in the second leg back on Kiwi soil, the Australians won 2-0 with one of their goals a cruel deflection.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 21 June 2025
During his first year in New York, Simmons came up with 50 tackles, three pass deflections, and one interception, which went for a touchdown.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflection
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
Fifty-fifty balls, deflections, getting in the passing lanes.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 21 June 2025
That first leg ended 1-0 — a slim aggregate lead — and in the second leg back on Kiwi soil, the Australians won 2-0 with one of their goals a cruel deflection.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 21 June 2025
During his first year in New York, Simmons came up with 50 tackles, three pass deflections, and one interception, which went for a touchdown.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflection
Cite this Entry
“Deflection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deflection. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
deflection
noun
de·flec·tion
di-ˈflek-shən
1
: a turning aside or deviation from a straight line
2
: the departure of an indicator or pointer from the zero reading on the scale of an instrument
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share