Sometimes you can't capture a piece to remove a defender, but you can distract that piece. Deflection is the tactic of removing a defender by making it move to another square. Often this involves a sacrifice that will be worth it for checkmate or greater material gains.
The queens are facing off - can you find a way to win Black's queen by deflecting the Black king?
Black's king is deflected away from defending the queen - capture Black's queen!
White's deflection tactic turned the game around for White!