# defer vs deft

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### defer
*verb · IPA /dɪˈfɜː/ · frequency rank #22,343*
To delay or postpone.

### deft
*adjective · IPA /dɛft/ · frequency rank #34,012*
Quick and neat in action; skillful.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defer-vs-deft