verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1.
to bend or turn aside; turn from a true course or straight line; swerve.
Origin
1545-55; < Latindēflectere to bend down, turn aside, equivalent to dē-de- + flectere to bend, turn
Related forms
deflectable, adjective
deflector, noun
Examples from the web for deflect
Or they will deflect responsibility and pin all the blame on administrators, who in their minds are the ultimate bogeymen.
These are things fast-food firms have learnt to cope with and to deflect.
The writers insistently deflect their gaze from anatomical gender difference, angrily proclaiming that it is a nonissue.
They try to deflect official attention by choosing names for their companies that avoid explicit reference to their true function.
Atop the rostrum he would impugn his enemies, excite crowds to action and deflect his detractors' barbs.
Others insist that he was trying to deflect blame for his own political troubles.
But aid also increases dependency and can deflect recipient governments from the urgency of the task.
Their goal is to deflect examination of the facts and exposure of the truth.
Too many providers use this argument to deflect patient criticism.
As long as they had access to easy loans, they could buy enough social peace to deflect attention from scandals and mismanagement.
British Dictionary definitions for deflect
deflect
/dɪˈflɛkt/
verb
1.
to turn or cause to turn aside from a course; swerve
Derived Forms
deflector, noun
Word Origin
C17: from Latin dēflectere, from flectere to bend
Word Origin and History for deflect
v.
1550s, from Latin deflectere "to bend (something) aside or downward," from de- "away" (see de-) + flectere "to bend" (see flexible). Originally transitive, the intransitive sense is first recorded 1640s. Related: Deflected; deflecting.