deflection
noun
de·flec·tion
di-ˈflek-shən 
dē-
1
: the act of changing or causing to change direction
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
And if not for a fortunate deflection off a Bosnia and Herzegovina defender in the 78th minute, Canada would have found itself on the wrong side of the biggest upset of the World Cup so far.
—
Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
That’s a common deflection in the cruise industry — many cruise lines prefer to have travel agents handle disputes rather than dealing with customers directly.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
Her attempt beat Hannah Hampton via a deflection and instantly, the whole tone of the contest changed.
—Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 6 June 2026
Sané scored off a short pass from Havertz, a diagonal shot between the legs of Miles Robinson that appeared to take a slight deflection off the defender and beat goalkeeper Matt Freese to the far post.
—CBS News, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for deflection
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Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
That’s a common deflection in the cruise industry — many cruise lines prefer to have travel agents handle disputes rather than dealing with customers directly.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
Her attempt beat Hannah Hampton via a deflection and instantly, the whole tone of the contest changed.
—Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 6 June 2026
Sané scored off a short pass from Havertz, a diagonal shot between the legs of Miles Robinson that appeared to take a slight deflection off the defender and beat goalkeeper Matt Freese to the far post.
—CBS News, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for deflection
Cite this Entry
“Deflection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deflection. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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
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