differer

Differer is not a standard English word. In contemporary usage, it is generally treated as a misspelling or a mistaken form for one of two distinct verbs: differ or defer. Each of these verbs has a clear, separate meaning: differ means to be unlike or to disagree; defer means to postpone, delay, or yield to someone else’s decision.

The appearance of differer is most likely in historical or nonstandard texts, where spelling was less standardized and scribes occasionally blended or varied endings. English spelling prior to modern standardization was fluid, and infrequent forms like differer can appear in marginalia or early printings without establishing a recognized sense. Because there is no established sense for differer as a separate lexical item, modern dictionaries do not define it as a distinct word.

When encountering differer in old manuscripts or uncertain texts, readers should infer the intended word from context: if the surrounding language concerns contrast or disagreement, differ is likely; if it concerns postponement or postponing an action, defer is likely. In standard writing, use the unambiguous forms differ or defer.

See also: differ, defer.