différance

From French différance (“deferral”) (coined in this sense by Derrida), from différer (“to postpone”); but punning on différence (“difference”).

différance (uncountable)

1. (literary theory, linguistics) The endless deferral of any ultimate meaning in a word or sentence, owing to the necessity of recourse to a potentially infinite series of other, equally uncertain words or signs.
   • 1980 June 5, Roger Poole, “Roger Poole on the seductions and dangers of structuralism”, in London Review of Books‎^[1], volume 02, number 11, →ISSN:

     This is the final Derridan manoeuvre, the showing up of ‘blind spots’ in a text, or the ‘blindness’ of an author to certain textual ‘différances’ or ‘suppléments’ in his own text, operative though not observed.

Coined by Jacques Derrida in 1959 from différer +‎ -ance, as a pun on the homophonous word différence.

• IPA^(key): /di.fe.ʁɑ̃s/

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• Homophone: différence

différance f (plural différances)

1. (literary theory, linguistics) différance