proffered; proffering
ˈprä-f(ə-)riŋ 
US law
: to offer to take part in a proffer session
decided that an indictment was unlikely and there was no reason to proffer
1
: offer, suggestion
2
US law
: an offer made to a prosecutor by a person who is a subject of a criminal investigation to provide information in exchange for limited immunity or a plea bargaining agreement
made a proffer in the hope of avoiding prosecution
Did you know?
As rhyming synonyms, proffer and offer are quite the pair, and we can proffer an explanation as to why: both come ultimately from Latin offerre, meaning “to present, tender, proffer, offer.” Offer had been part of the language for hundreds of years before proffer was adopted by way of an Anglo-French intermediary in the 14th century. A more formal word than its plainer relation, proffer often emphasizes courteousness on the part of the one doing the tendering.
Synonyms
Examples of proffer in a Sentence
Verb
He proffered advice on how best to proceed.
proffered his assistance in helping the two sides reach a compromise
Noun
a generous proffer of his baronial estate for the charity gala
Recent Examples on the Web
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Nov. 2024
Numerous bids were proffered when CAA dropped the spec on the town, and one of the most intriguing bids came from Taylor Sheridan and Temple Hill’s Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey, who were ready to pay $2 million together with a greenlight and a theatrical release, and a blind script deal.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024
Dan De Luce, NBC News, 8 Oct. 2024
The filing, known as a proffer, was made by prosecutors in support of their request that a judge order the Routh held without bail at the hearing.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for proffer 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Rodrigo asked, proffering her, wah wah, driver’s license as proof.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Nov. 2024
Numerous bids were proffered when CAA dropped the spec on the town, and one of the most intriguing bids came from Taylor Sheridan and Temple Hill’s Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey, who were ready to pay $2 million together with a greenlight and a theatrical release, and a blind script deal.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
But the Biden campaign did not respond to the proffer.
—Dan De Luce, NBC News, 8 Oct. 2024
The filing, known as a proffer, was made by prosecutors in support of their request that a judge order the Routh held without bail at the hearing.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for proffer
Dictionary Entries Near proffer
Cite this Entry
“Proffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proffer. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share