confer

verb

con·​fer kən-ˈfər 

conferred; conferring

intransitive verb

: to compare views or take counsel : consult

transitive verb

1

: to bestow from or as if from a position of superiority

conferred an honorary degree on her

knowing how to read was a gift conferred with manhood

—Murray Kempton

2

: to give (something, such as a property or characteristic) to someone or something

a reputation for power will confer power

—John Spanier

conferment

kən-ˈfər-mənt 

noun

conferrable

kən-ˈfər-ə-bəl 

adjective

conferral

kən-ˈfər-əl 

noun

conferrer

kən-ˈfər-ər 

noun

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Confer vs. Consult

Confer and consult are very closely related in meaning, and each has senses that are synonymous with the other’s. But as is so often the case with near-synonyms, there are contexts in which one word is preferable to the other.

If you confer with someone, it is entirely possible that you will be seeking advice, but you could also simply be having a discussion (“they conferred privately before making a decision”). If you are consulting someone or something, it is more likely that you are seeking advice (“he consulted his doctor before deciding on a course of treatment”). Consult is unambiguously the correct choice when one is seeking guidance or information from a non-human source; you would consult (not confer with) a dictionary for information on a word.

The sense of confer that is concerned with giving something (as in, “education confers many benefits”) is not shared by consult.

Synonyms

• accord
• award
• grant
• vest

Choose the Right Synonym for confer

give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession.

give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

give alms

gave her a ride on a pony

give my love to your mother

present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

present an award

donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

donate a piano to the orphanage

bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

bestow unwanted advice

confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

confer an honorary degree

afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

the trees afford shade

a development that affords us some hope

Examples of confer in a Sentence

The cameleers … conferred with each other about the safest path across. —Greg Child, Mixed Emotions: Mountaineering Writings of Greg Child, 1993

He liked the ease and glitter of the life, and the lustre conferred on him by being a member of this group of rich and conspicuous people. —Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, 1905

It was a traditional compliment to be whinged at by an Englishman. It was his way of saying he trusted you, he was conferring upon you the privilege of getting to know the real him. —Margaret Atwood, New Yorker, 5 Mar.1990

The lawyer and judge conferred about the ruling.

the British monarch continues to confer knighthood on those who are outstanding in their fields of endeavor

Recent Examples on the Web

The other, charging him with felonies related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, has been delayed by a Supreme Court opinion conferring broad immunity for official acts by a president. —Dan Merica and Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024

Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel left his wealth to create a prize that rewards discoveries that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. —Melina Khan, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024

They were not allowed to confer, and didn’t need to. —Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024

This lady takes it a bit further, conferring congratulations on the mere possibility. —Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin conferō, conferre "to bring or take, convey, bestow, bring together, unite," from con- con- + ferō, ferre "to carry, bear" — more at bear entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

confer

verb

con·​fer kən-ˈfər 

conferred; conferring

1

: to compare views especially in studying a problem

confer with the committee

2

: to give or grant publicly

confer knighthood on him

conferment

-ˈfər-mənt 

noun

conferrable

-ˈfər-ə-bəl 

adjective

conferral

-ˈfər-əl 

noun

conferrer

-ˈfər-ər 

noun