Explanation at your level:
To confer means to give something special. A school confers a diploma. It is a very formal word.
When someone in charge gives you an honor, they confer it on you. It is used for degrees or awards.
Use confer when talking about official honors. It is common in graduation ceremonies or when a government gives a title to a person.
Confer is a formal verb that implies authority. It is distinct from 'give' because it involves a legal or ceremonial process of bestowing status.
In advanced English, confer is used to describe how abstract qualities or rights are granted. It carries a sense of institutional weight and societal recognition.
The etymological roots of confer highlight its dual nature: bringing things together for consultation and bringing honors to recipients. It is a cornerstone of formal, academic, and legal discourse.
Mot en 30 secondes
- Confer means to formally bestow an honor or right.
- It is used in academic, legal, and formal settings.
- Always use the preposition 'on' or 'upon' with it.
- It comes from Latin and means 'to bring together'.
When you confer something, you are not just handing over an object; you are bestowing a status or an honor. Think of it as a formal transfer of prestige.
It is a word you will often hear in academic or legal settings. When a university confers a degree, they are officially recognizing that a student has completed their studies. It carries a sense of weight and importance.
Using this word suggests that the person giving the honor has the authority to do so. You wouldn't say a friend 'confers' a sandwich on you; that would sound quite silly! Instead, it is reserved for things like knighthoods, awards, or legal rights.
The word confer comes from the Latin word conferre, which means 'to bring together' or 'to contribute'. It is composed of com- (together) and ferre (to bring).
Historically, it was used to describe bringing things together for a discussion, which is why we also use 'confer' to mean 'to consult' with others. Over time, the meaning shifted toward the act of 'bringing' an honor to someone else.
It entered Middle English in the 15th century and has maintained its formal, slightly elevated status throughout its history. It is a classic example of a word that retains its Latin roots in both structure and usage.
Confer is almost exclusively used in formal contexts. You will see it in news articles, graduation programs, and legal documents.
Common collocations include confer a degree, confer an honor, and confer a benefit. Notice how these are all abstract concepts rather than physical items.
If you are writing an essay or a formal letter, this is a great word to use to sound professional. Avoid using it in casual conversation, as it might make you sound a bit too stiff or dramatic for everyday chat.
While 'confer' itself isn't the base of many common idioms, it is often associated with formal phrases. 1. Confer with: To consult someone. I need to confer with my lawyer. 2. Confer upon: To bestow upon. They conferred the title upon him. 3. Confer status: To give someone a higher rank. The award confers status on the winner. 4. Confer a favor: To do a formal kindness. 5. Confer legitimacy: To make something official. The vote conferred legitimacy on the new government.
The verb confer is regular but requires a double 'r' when adding suffixes: conferred, conferring. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes an object.
Pronunciation is /kənˈfɜːr/ in both UK and US English. The stress is on the second syllable. Rhyming words include refer, defer, infer, transfer, and deter.
Remember that it is often followed by the preposition 'on' or 'upon' when describing who receives the honor. For example, 'The board conferred the award on the scientist.'
Fun Fact
It shares the same root as 'transfer' and 'infer'.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'con' + 'fur'.
Sounds like 'con' + 'fur'.
Common Errors
- Misplacing stress on the first syllable
- Pronouncing the 'r' too softly
- Adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Formal vocabulary
Requires formal register
Rare in casual speech
Common in formal media
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avancé
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
Confer requires an object.
Passive Voice
The honor was conferred.
Prepositional Phrases
Confer on/upon.
Examples by Level
The school will confer the degree.
school gives degree
Future tense
They confer the award today.
they give award
Present tense
He was conferred an honor.
he received honor
Passive voice
The king confers a title.
king gives title
Subject-verb agreement
Did they confer the prize?
did they give prize?
Question form
The law confers rights.
law gives rights
Simple present
She confers the medal.
she gives medal
Simple present
They conferred the status.
they gave status
Past tense
The university confers degrees every June.
The committee conferred the prize on the winner.
Titles are conferred by the monarch.
The contract confers specific legal rights.
They conferred an honorary degree on her.
The ceremony conferred a sense of pride.
The treaty confers power to the state.
Power is conferred by the people.
The president conferred the Medal of Honor on the soldier.
This document confers upon you the right to vote.
The board will confer the award at the gala.
The new law confers benefits on small businesses.
He was conferred the title of Professor Emeritus.
The organization confers scholarships annually.
The title confers certain responsibilities.
The judge conferred the authority to act.
The knighthood was conferred upon him by the Queen.
The agreement confers a competitive advantage on the firm.
The university is proud to confer this honorary doctorate.
The status conferred by the position is significant.
The policy confers immunity on the participants.
The award confers prestige upon the recipient.
They conferred the responsibility on the new manager.
The charter confers autonomy to the region.
The act confers legitimacy upon the entire process.
The court conferred the power to settle the dispute.
The award confers a sense of distinction on the artist.
The treaty confers rights that are legally binding.
The title confers a level of prestige rarely seen.
The committee conferred the honor with great ceremony.
The system confers benefits based on merit.
The role confers the authority to make decisions.
The ancient tradition confers a sacred status on the location.
The decree confers an irrevocable right to the land.
The university confers degrees in absentia.
The honor was conferred in recognition of his lifetime work.
The legislation confers broad powers on the executive.
The title confers a weight of expectation on the bearer.
The award confers a legacy that will last for years.
The status conferred by the office is immense.
Collocations courantes
Idioms & Expressions
"confer with"
to discuss
Let me confer with my team.
neutral"confer upon"
to give to
They conferred the prize upon her.
formal"confer a favor"
to do a kindness
He conferred a favor on the family.
formal"confer status"
to add prestige
The job confers status.
neutral"confer rights"
to give legal power
The contract confers rights.
formal"confer benefits"
to provide advantages
The system confers benefits.
neutralEasily Confused
similar sound
defer means to postpone
I will defer the meeting.
similar sound
refer means to mention
He referred to the book.
similar sound
infer means to conclude
I inferred the truth.
similar sound
transfer means to move
I transferred the money.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + confer + object + on + person
They conferred the award on him.
Subject + confer + with + person
I will confer with my lawyer.
Passive: Object + be + conferred + on + person
The title was conferred on her.
Subject + confer + title
The king confers titles.
Subject + confer + benefit
The act confers benefits.
Famille de mots
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Apparenté
How to Use It
6
Formality Scale
Erreurs courantes
The object (the degree) comes before the recipient (the person).
Spelling error, no 'e' at the end.
The correct preposition is on/upon.
Confer is for formal honors, not physical objects.
You confer the honor, not the person.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize a graduation stage.
Formal Writing
Use it in essays.
Royal Context
Used for knighthoods.
Double R
Remember conferred.
Stress
Stress the second syllable.
Preposition
Always use 'on'.
Latin Roots
Means to bring together.
Contextualize
Read university news.
Don't use for casual
Keep it formal.
Transitive
Needs an object.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Confer sounds like 'con' (together) + 'fur' (bring). Imagine bringing furs together to honor a king.
Visual Association
A university president handing a diploma to a student.
Word Web
Défi
Write three sentences using 'confer' about different types of honors.
Origine du mot
Latin
Original meaning: to bring together
Contexte culturel
None, it is a neutral, formal verb.
Commonly used in university graduation ceremonies.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Graduation
- confer a degree
- confer honors
- ceremony of conferring
Law
- confer rights
- confer power
- confer authority
Business
- confer with partners
- confer status
- confer benefits
Politics
- confer legitimacy
- confer a title
- confer immunity
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever seen someone confer a degree?"
"Who has the authority to confer honors in your country?"
"Do you prefer to confer with others before deciding?"
"What kind of status does a university degree confer?"
"Why do we use the word confer for formal things?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you received an honor or award.
Why is it important for institutions to confer degrees?
Reflect on the difference between 'giving' and 'conferring'.
Write about a situation where you had to confer with someone.
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsNo, confer is much more formal and implies authority.
Only if the gift is very formal or symbolic.
Conferred.
Yes, 'confer with' means to consult or discuss.
It is common in formal writing but rare in daily speech.
Usually an institution does, but a person representing it might.
On or upon.
Yes.
Teste-toi
The university will ___ a degree on her.
Confer is the correct formal verb for degrees.
What does 'confer' mean?
Confer means to bestow an honor.
Is 'confer' used to describe giving a sandwich to a friend?
Confer is for formal honors, not casual items.
Word
Signification
These are the correct synonyms and meanings.
The award was conferred on him.
Score : /5
Summary
Confer is a formal verb for officially giving someone a title, honor, or right.
- Confer means to formally bestow an honor or right.
- It is used in academic, legal, and formal settings.
- Always use the preposition 'on' or 'upon' with it.
- It comes from Latin and means 'to bring together'.
Memory Palace
Visualize a graduation stage.
Formal Writing
Use it in essays.
Royal Context
Used for knighthoods.
Double R
Remember conferred.
Exemple
The committee will comferess the highest honor upon the researcher for her lifetime achievements.
Related Content
Plus de mots sur Social
abanthropate
C1Describes a state of being removed from, or having lost, the essential qualities and characteristics of humanity. It is often used in philosophical or literary contexts to describe a person or entity that has transcended or been alienated from the human condition.
abhospence
C1A rare or formal term describing the state or act of lacking hospitality, or the deliberate withdrawal of a welcoming attitude towards guests or outsiders. It refers to a cold, inhospitable atmosphere or a specific instance where a host fails to provide expected comforts or kindness.
abjudtude
C1The state or quality of being formally rejected, cast off, or disowned through an authoritative or judicial decision. It refers to a condition of absolute renunciation where a person or entity is stripped of their previous status or rights.
abphobship
C1A formal adjective describing a systemic and deep-seated aversion to institutional hierarchies or organized authority figures. It is frequently applied in sociological and organizational contexts to describe individuals or movements that intentionally distance themselves from formal power structures.
abstinence
B2Le choix volontaire de se priver de quelque chose, comme de l'alcool ou de la nourriture, par discipline personnelle.
abtactship
C1C'est l'état de ne pas avoir de contact physique ou d'être intangible. On l'utilise pour décrire une relation qui n'est pas matérielle ou corporelle.
abtrudship
C1To forcefully impose one's leadership, authority, or specific set of rules onto a group without their consent or prior consultation. It describes the act of thrusting a structured way of doing things upon others in a dominant or intrusive manner.
abvictious
C1To strategically yield or concede a minor position or advantage in order to ensure a greater ultimate victory. It describes a sophisticated form of success achieved through intentional, calculated loss or withdrawal.
abvolism
C1C'est quand on s'éloigne volontairement des normes sociales pour être totalement autonome.
acceptance
B2Acceptance is the act of agreeing to an offer, plan, or invitation, or the process of being received into a group or society. It also refers to the willingness to tolerate a difficult situation or the state of being approved by others.
