Quick answer: Postpone means to move something to a later, usually specified, time: The meeting was postponed until Thursday. Defer has two meanings: (1) to put something off, often without a fixed new date — They deferred the decision; and (2) to yield or submit to someone else’s authority or judgement — I defer to your expertise. Postpone only means delay; defer has this extra sense of deferring to another. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘defer’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| defer | verb | (1) to put off to a later time, often without a new date; (2) to yield to another’s authority or judgement | They deferred the vote. / I defer to your judgement. |
| postpone | verb | to arrange for something to happen at a later time than originally planned; to delay | The match was postponed due to rain. |
Using Defer (Meaning 1: to delay)
When defer means to put something off, it is very close in meaning to postpone. However, defer often implies putting something off indefinitely or without specifying a new date, and it tends to appear in formal, legal, and official contexts.
The board deferred the decision until more information was available.
Payment can be deferred for up to six months.
The government deferred the planned budget cuts.
Military service was deferred for students until they graduated.
Using Defer (Meaning 2: to yield)
The second meaning of defer — to submit to or yield to someone else’s authority, wishes, or greater knowledge — has no overlap with postpone. This sense always takes the preposition to: defer to someone.
I defer to your greater experience in this matter.
The junior doctors deferred to the consultant’s recommendation.
She deferred to her manager rather than challenging the decision publicly.
This sense of defer is completely separate from delay and cannot be replaced by postpone.
Using Postpone
Postpone means to arrange for something to take place at a later time than planned. It usually implies that a new date or time will be set, even if not stated immediately. It is the more straightforward and commonly used word for delay in everyday contexts.
The concert was postponed to next Saturday because of bad weather.
Can we postpone the meeting until after lunch?
The launch was postponed by two weeks.
He kept postponing the conversation he dreaded having.
Key Differences
- New date: Postpone typically implies a new date will be set; defer is often more open-ended.
- Second meaning: Defer (to yield) has no equivalent in postpone.
- Register: Defer is more formal and common in official, legal, and financial contexts; postpone is standard in both formal and everyday use.
- Grammar: Defer to someone (yield sense) requires the preposition to; postpone does not.
Side-by-Side Examples
They deferred the vote indefinitely.
They postponed the vote until the following Tuesday.
Common Mistakes
✗ I will postpone to your judgement on this.
✓ I will defer to your judgement on this.
✗ The match was deferred to next Saturday. (unusual)
✓ The match was postponed to next Saturday.
Defer and postpone both mean delay, not cancel. If something is deferred or postponed, it will still happen — just at a later time. If it is cancelled, it will not happen at all.
Memory Tip
Remember: POSTpone — the post- prefix means “after” (as in postscript, posthumous) — so postpone simply pushes something to after its original time. DEFER comes from the Latin differre (to carry apart) and also means to carry authority over to someone else — hence its unique sense of yielding.
Also worth exploring: Delay vs Postpone, Cancel vs Postpone, Avoid vs Prevent. Browse all confusing word pairs →
Defer or Postpone?
Three questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “The match was ___ due to rain.” (moved to a specified later time)
2. “I ___ to your judgement.” (yield to someone’s authority)
3. “They ___ the decision indefinitely.” (put off, no fixed new date)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between defer and postpone?
Postpone means to move something to a later time, often with a new date in mind. Defer also means to put something off, but often without specifying a new date and with a more formal or official tone. Additionally, defer has a second meaning: to yield to someone else's authority or judgement, which postpone does not have.
What does “defer to someone” mean?
To defer to someone means to yield, submit, or show respect to that person's greater authority, expertise, or judgement. Example: “I defer to your experience in this field.” This sense of defer has no connection to delay and cannot be replaced by postpone.
Can defer and postpone be used interchangeably to mean delay?
In many contexts, yes. Both mean to put something off to a later time. However, postpone more naturally implies that a new date will be set: “The meeting was postponed until Thursday.” Defer is often more open-ended and formal: “The decision was deferred pending further review.”
What is a deferred payment?
A deferred payment is one that is delayed to a later date. Common in finance and retail: “Buy now, pay later” schemes offer deferred payment. Student loan repayments are often deferred until the borrower earns above a certain threshold. “Deferred payment” is the standard term in financial English, not “postponed payment.”
What is the difference between postpone and cancel?
Postpone means to delay something to a later time — it will still happen. Cancel means to decide that something will not happen at all. If your flight is postponed, it departs later. If it is cancelled, it does not depart. Always clarify which applies to avoid confusion.
What are common collocations with defer?
Common collocations: defer a decision, defer payment, defer tax, defer to someone, defer judgement, deferred entry, deferred income, military deferment. In academic contexts: “deferred entry” means starting a course a year later than originally planned.
What are common collocations with postpone?
Common collocations: postpone a meeting, postpone a match, postpone a decision, postpone a deadline, postpone indefinitely, postpone until. Postpone is very common in news reports: “The summit has been postponed until further notice.”
What is deference?
Deference is the noun from the “yield” sense of defer. It means respectful submission to another's authority or judgement: “She showed deference to the senior partners.” “In deference to local customs, they removed their shoes.” The adjective is deferential: “a deferential tone.”
What is the noun form of postpone?
The noun form is postponement: “The postponement of the election was announced on Friday.” The word is straightforward and does not have any secondary meanings like defer does.
How do defer and postpone appear in formal writing?
In formal, legal, and business writing, defer is common: “The committee has deferred its decision pending further consultation.” Postpone is preferred when a new date is specified: “The AGM has been postponed to 15 July 2026.” Both are appropriate in academic and professional writing; avoid the more informal “put off” in formal documents.