Other forms: deflected, deflecting, deflects
To deflect is to turn a blow aside. Deflect the blow, deflected off the post, deflect the question.
The turning aside rather than stopping is the point — a deflected shot is still travelling, just elsewhere, which is why deflections are so hard for a goalkeeper. Figuratively, to deflect a question is to redirect it rather than refuse it, and deflecting blame is the standard political manoeuvre. Note deflection; and that the Latin means to bend away.
1verbdeflectTo turn a blow or an object aside.
“The goalkeeper deflected the ball over the bar with his fingertips.”
2verbredirectTo redirect a question or blame.
“The minister deflected questions about the scandal by talking about the economy instead.”
deflect is a turning aside.
Latin deflectere is de plus flectere, to bend. Flex, reflect and inflection come from the same bending.
Latin
deflecto
English, today
deflect
Built from
From Latin deflecto, from de- (“away”) + flecto (“to bend”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA