deflection
UK[dɪˈflɛkʃ(ə)n]US[dɪˈflɛkʃ(ə)n]
n
A change in the direction of something after it has hit something else.
n
The action of making something change direction.
n
The act of turning something, especially criticism or attention, away from someone or something.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
flect
ion
de
away, from
flect
to bend
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word "deflection" has a clear mechanical and metaphorical logic rooted in its Latin components. It originates from the past participle stem deflect- of the Latin verb deflectere, which is a compound of de- ("away from") and flectere ("to bend"). The literal sense is therefore "to bend away" or "to turn aside." This core physical meaning, describing the change in a path due to an obstacle or force, remains central in physics and engineering. Over time, the concept was abstracted to describe the act of diverting non-physical things, such as attention, blame, or criticism, away from a target, preserving the fundamental idea of causing a deviation from an original course.
Analysis
Structure: de (away, from) + flect (to bend) + ion (noun suffix)
de: A Latin prefix meaning "away from" or "off." It indicates reversal or removal.
flect: From the Latin verb flectere, meaning "to bend" or "to curve."
ion: A suffix of Latin origin used to form nouns denoting an action or process, or its result.
Examples
The goalie made a crucial save by causing a slight deflection of the ball with his fingertips.
The shield was designed for the deflection of incoming projectiles.
His clever joke was a successful deflection of the interviewer's awkward question.