noun

deflection

dih-FLEK-shun/dɪˈflekʃn/

A displacement from a previous direction or position.

A deflection off the goalkeeper's glove sends the ball away from the goal.

A soccer ball strikes a goalkeeper’s open glove and changes course away from the goal; one ball at contact with subtle curved motion strokes showing the redirected path, compact goal edge.

Etymology

deLatinaway

+flectLatinto bend

+ionLatinaction or state

The underlying image is bending away, with the noun ending naming the action or resulting state. A deflection is thus a departure from an original direction under a blow or other influence.

In context

Highlight Reel2:10

balls up in the air and it's intercepted off the deflection tvi able to come up with it after the peppers pop on Adams

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More examples

Engineers measure the beam's deflection under a heavy load.
His sudden change of subject is an obvious deflection.
Her deflection of blame onto her coworkers fools no one.

Forms

deflection · deflections

deflect verb — To turn something aside from its course.

Similar words

diversion: Diversion emphasizes redirection, especially of attention, traffic, or resources.
displacement: Displacement describes a change in position, not necessarily direction.
bending: Bending changes an object's shape rather than its overall path.