preferment
noun
pre·fer·ment
pri-ˈfər-mənt 
1
a
: advancement or promotion in dignity, office, or station
b
: a position or office of honor or profit
2
: priority or seniority in right especially to receive payment or to purchase property on equal terms with others
3
: the act of bringing forward
preferment of charges
Synonyms
Examples of preferment in a Sentence
He has hopes for preferment.
anticipated her preferment to a better-paying position within the company
Recent Examples on the Web
The evolution of the dough at Flour + Water OG was inspired by their research and development at Flour + Water Pizzeria and the findings of what a preferment does to the complexity of that dough.
—
Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024
But what is a preferment, really?
—Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 11 Oct. 2020
The Communist government’s leadership compound in Beijing, Zhongnanhai, more and more resembles an imperial palace where royal favorites jockey for preferment and titles.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2022
Government patronage, rather than innovation and the service of one’s neighbor, becomes the path to preferment, and innovation is consequently replaced by lobbying and supplication for special status.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 12 Aug. 2021
Working-class Protestants are watching the new global economy select their old tribal enemies for preferment while they themselves are left behind.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 15 Apr. 2021
Why should the government give yet another preferment to investment in upgrading the human capital of the affluent, over the capital investments of other entrepreneurs and workers?
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 21 Nov. 2020
Think of a preferment like a head start towards fermentation.
—Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 11 Oct. 2020
MPs’ natural wish to support their prime minister, their own ambitions for preferment and the whips’ cruel ways all make for a reluctance to rock the boat.
—The Economist, 21 June 2018
Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024
But what is a preferment, really?
—Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 11 Oct. 2020
The Communist government’s leadership compound in Beijing, Zhongnanhai, more and more resembles an imperial palace where royal favorites jockey for preferment and titles.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2022
Government patronage, rather than innovation and the service of one’s neighbor, becomes the path to preferment, and innovation is consequently replaced by lobbying and supplication for special status.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 12 Aug. 2021
Working-class Protestants are watching the new global economy select their old tribal enemies for preferment while they themselves are left behind.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 15 Apr. 2021
Why should the government give yet another preferment to investment in upgrading the human capital of the affluent, over the capital investments of other entrepreneurs and workers?
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 21 Nov. 2020
Think of a preferment like a head start towards fermentation.
—Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 11 Oct. 2020
MPs’ natural wish to support their prime minister, their own ambitions for preferment and the whips’ cruel ways all make for a reluctance to rock the boat.
—The Economist, 21 June 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preferment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near preferment
Cite this Entry
“Preferment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preferment. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preferment
noun
pre·fer·ment
pri-ˈfər-mənt
1
: advancement or promotion in dignity, office, or rank
2
: a position or office of honor or importance
Legal Definition
preferment
noun
pre·fer·ment
pri-ˈfər-mənt
1
: advancement or promotion in office or station
2
: the act of preferring (as charges)
without preferment of allegations
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share