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# deflection

«deflection» in Mova's school dictionary: **A change in direction when something bounces off or is…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (a deflection, deflections; also uncountable)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A change in direction when something bounces off or is pushed sideways: «The ball went in off a deflection». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deflection/#m1)

2) (science) The amount something bends or moves aside under a force, such as a beam under a load or a needle on a meter: «the deflection of the compass needle». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deflection/#m2)

3) Turning attention, blame or a question away from yourself onto something else: «His joke was just a deflection». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deflection/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In football and other sports, a goal scored «off a deflection» changed direction when it hit another player. In science lessons on forces, magnets deflect a compass needle, and light can be deflected (bent) by mirrors and lenses. In PSHE and media literacy, «deflection» is avoiding a hard question by changing the subject or blaming others. Phrases: «a deflection off», «deflection of the needle», «a lucky deflection».

### examples

- The goal came from a lucky deflection off a defender. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deflection/#x1)
- The magnet caused a deflection of the compass needle. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deflection/#x2)
- We measured the deflection of the ruler when we hung weights on it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deflection/#x3)
- When asked about the broken vase, his answer was a clear deflection. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deflection/#x4)
- Without that deflection the shot would have missed. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deflection/#x5)
- The deflection of light by a prism splits it into colours. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deflection/#x6)

### note

Spelled «deflection» (UK sometimes «deflexion», old). Verb: «deflect». In science, «deflection» is often measured in millimetres or degrees. In sport commentary, «a wicked deflection» means a big, unlucky change of direction.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «deflection» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deflection/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.