verb
confer
kuhn-FUR
verb
1
To talk something over with others; to discuss and seek advice.
"The lawyers conferred before entering the courtroom."
"She conferred with her doctor about the test results."
2
To formally give or grant something, such as a title, honor, or right.
"The university conferred an honorary degree on the retiring professor."
"Citizenship confers certain legal rights."
How to Use Confer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo discuss something with others, or to formally give someone a title, degree, or right.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "infer" (to work out from evidence) or "refer" (to point to or mention).
Common pairings
confer with colleagues
confer a degree
confer a title
Word Forms
conferred past tense, Confers plural, confers singular
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Citizenship _____ certain legal rights.
Etymology
From Latin cōnferō, "to bring together" — from con- ("together") + ferō ("to carry"). A doublet of "collate."