/ dɪˈflekʃn; NAmE / noun
[ U , C , usually sing. ] a sudden change in the direction that sth is moving in, usually after it has hit sth; the act of causing sth to change direction :
the angle of deflection
the deflection of the missile away from its target
The goal was scored with a deflection off the goalkeeper.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from late Latin deflexio(n-) , from deflectere bend away, from de- away from + flectere to bend.