暂缓起诉，指的是检察机关从刑罚特别预防的角度，综合案件情况尤其是犯罪人的情况、犯罪人犯罪后的表现，认为以暂不提起公诉为宜的，可以暂缓提起公诉，并为被暂缓起诉人设定相应的义务，如果被暂缓起诉人在法定的考验期间内，没有违背法定义务，那么考验期限届满，检察机关就作出不起诉决定；如果违背义务，检察机关则立即提起公诉。

“暂缓”一词可用“defer”来表示：

defer

v.(1)推迟；拖延；展期；延缓；迟延PUT OFF, DELAY　(2)遵从；听从；服从　

“起诉”则为常见的“prosecution”：

the act or process of prosecuting

specifically : the institution and continuance of a criminal suit involving the process of pursuing formal charges against an offender to final judgment

(1) 实施；执行；从事　(2)刑事诉讼　也称criminal prosecution。　(3)控诉方；公诉方　指代表政府提起刑事诉讼追究被告人刑事责任的律师。

因此，“暂缓起诉协议”即为deferred prosecution agreement（DPA）。

A Deferred Prosecution Agreement (“DPA”) is a Court approved agreement between a company, partnership or unincorporated association, referred to in this chapter as “the Company”, and a prosecutor at the CPS or SFO. A DPA may be an appropriate alternative to prosecution of the Company where it would be in the public interest.

以下为相关双语示例，供参考：

Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in Brooklyn on Friday to resolve a sanctions violation case.

周五，华为首席财务官孟晚舟与布鲁克林联邦检察官达成暂缓起诉协议，执结了违反制裁案。

“In entering into the deferred prosecution agreement, Meng has taken responsibility for her principal role in perpetrating a scheme to defraud a global financial institution,” said acting US attorney Nicole Boeckmann in a press release.

美国代理检察官尼科尔·博克曼在新闻稿中表示：“签署这份暂缓起诉协议，代表孟对她在实施一项欺诈全球金融机构的计划中所扮演的主要角色负责。”