deemed
C1Formal, Legal, Bureaucratic, Academic
Definition
Meaning
Formally judged or considered to be something; officially regarded in a specified way.
To come to think or judge, especially in a formal, official, or authoritative capacity. Often implies a subjective judgment based on specific criteria or standards.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Deemed" carries a nuance of official or authoritative judgment, often based on rules, laws, or standards, rather than casual opinion. It is frequently used in passive constructions and followed by a complement (to be/to have).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or grammatical usage. The word is equally formal and prevalent in legal and bureaucratic contexts in both varieties. Spelling is the same.
Connotations
Equally formal and authoritative in both varieties. Associated with government, law, contracts, and official regulations.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English due to its prevalence in parliamentary and legislative language, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[deem + object + (to be) + complement] (He deemed it necessary.)[be deemed + (to be) + complement] (The property was deemed unsafe.)[be deemed + to have + past participle] (The applicant is deemed to have consented.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Deemed university (an institution granted university status by a government act)”
- “Deemed dividend (a payment treated as a dividend for tax purposes)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in contracts and compliance: 'Any late payment shall be deemed a breach of contract.'
Academic
Used in theoretical or critical analysis: 'The experiment was deemed a failure due to flawed methodology.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously or sarcastically: 'My attempt at baking was deemed inedible by my family.'
Technical
Prevalent in law and policy: 'The land is deemed contaminated under the Environmental Protection Act.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The local council deemed the building structurally unsound.
- The payment was deemed to have been received on the date it was posted.
American English
- The board deemed the project too risky to fund.
- He was deemed ineligible for the scholarship.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- This is not applicable as it's a deemed provision (in law).
- The deemed consent period has now expired.
American English
- The transaction resulted in a deemed dividend.
- They calculated the taxpayer's deemed income.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor deemed the patient healthy enough to go home.
- His idea was deemed very good by the teacher.
- The film was deemed unsuitable for young audiences by the classification board.
- Failure to reply within 14 days will be deemed an acceptance of the terms.
- The court deemed the evidence inadmissible due to how it was obtained.
- The expenditure is deemed to have been incurred wholly for business purposes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a judge issuing a DECREE. DEEMED sounds like 'decreed' – both involve an official judgment.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUDGMENT IS AN OFFICIAL DECREE (authoritative, binding).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating simply as "думал" (thought). Use "считаться", "признаваться", "расцениваться" to convey the official/judgmental nuance.
- Confusing "deem" with "seem". "Deem" is active judgment; "seem" is passive appearance.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in place of 'seem' (Incorrect: It deems that he is late. Correct: It seems that he is late.)
- Using it without an object complement (Incorrect: The council deemed. Correct: The council deemed the proposal unacceptable.)
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'think' or 'consider' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'deemed' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily a formal word used in legal, official, business, and academic contexts. In everyday conversation, 'think', 'consider', or 'see as' are more natural.
The most common structure is 'deem + object + (to be) + adjective/noun'. The 'to be' is often omitted, especially in formal writing (e.g., 'They deemed him (to be) guilty').
Both can be synonyms, but 'deem' is more formal and implies a conclusive judgment, often by an authority or according to a rule. 'Consider' is more neutral and suggests thoughtful examination.
Yes, though the passive is more frequent. Active: 'The judge deemed the confession coerced.' Passive: 'The confession was deemed coerced.'
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