1. The property of being bent or deflected
   "The deflection of light by the prism created a rainbow effect"; "a frustrating deflection of the ball from the post";
   - deflexion [Brit], bending
    
2. The amount by which a propagating wave is bent
   "They measured the deflection of the light beam";
   - deflexion [Brit], refraction
    
3. The movement of the pointer or pen of a measuring instrument from its zero position
   "The scientist noted the deflection of the needle on the gauge";
   - deflexion [Brit]
    
4. A temporary departure from the main subject or course in speech, writing, or thought
   "The lecture was full of interesting deflections";
   - diversion, deviation, digression, deflexion [Brit], divagation [rare], sidetrack, discursion, aside, excursus, parenthesis
    
5. A twist or aberration; especially a perverse or abnormal way of judging or acting
   "His moral deflection was a result of years of corruption";
   - warp

Derived forms: deflections

Type of: aberrance, aberrancy, aberration, bend, bending, content, deviance, deviancy, message, motion, movement, physical property, subject matter, substance, turn, turning

Encyclopedia: Deflection