Definition
Quick and skillful, especially with your hands. Done with smooth ease and precision.
Example
She made a deft move and caught the falling glass.
Show translation
She made a quick, skillful move and caught the falling glass.
Etymology
From Middle English *daft* in its older sense of "gentle, mild, apt," from Old English *gedæfte* meaning "meek, fitting, mild." Over time, the word's meaning shifted from "gentle and fitting" toward "nimble and skillful," a drift that was complete by the 16th century. Its modern spelling *deft* diverged from *daft*, which retained the older (and eventually pejorative) sense of "foolish."
Cultural note
*Deft* is often used in journalism and literary criticism to praise writing or artistic work — "a deft touch," "a deft portrayal" — making it useful beyond physical skill. Watch out: despite looking similar, *deft* and *adept* are not interchangeable. *Adept* (from Latin *adeptus*, "having attained") emphasizes mastered expertise in a field; *deft* emphasizes the smooth, light quality of the action itself.