conferred

en
en
Change language
Translating...
Find language
Ελληνικά
Greek
Español
Spanish
Français
French
Magyar
Hungarian
Italiano
Italian
/kənˈfɝd/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A past action of formally giving an honor or right, consulting with others, or an officially granted status.
Practice using conferred in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • The conferred status allowed access to the records.
  • Parliament conferred new powers on the regulator.
  • Membership conferred access to the private archive.
  • The university conferred an honorary degree on the activist.
  • The conferred title carried no salary.

Similar words

conversed
accorded
bestowed
talked
awarded
met
discussed
granted
official
awarded

Meanings

Formally granted

verb
formal
formal
Formally gave an honor, title, right, power, or quality to someone or something.

Examples

  • The university conferred an honorary degree on the activist.
  • Parliament conferred new powers on the regulator.
  • The foundation conferred its annual prize upon the poet.
  • The treaty conferred fishing rights on the coastal communities.
  • Membership conferred access to the private archive.

Similar words

bestowed
granted
awarded
presented
accorded
vested

Consulted together

verb
discussion
formal
Discussed a question with others, usually to compare views before a decision.

Examples

  • The judges conferred before announcing the winner.
  • Doctors conferred with specialists about the diagnosis.
  • The negotiators conferred late into the evening.
  • Committee members conferred on the final wording.
  • She conferred with counsel before signing the agreement.

Similar words

consulted
deliberated
discussed
talked
met
conversed

Officially granted

adjective
official status
formal
Officially granted and now held as a title, right, degree, privilege, or status.

Examples

  • The conferred degree appeared on his transcript in May.
  • The conferred title carried no salary.
  • Her conferred rights were protected by the charter.
  • The conferred status allowed access to the records.
  • Newly conferred honors were listed in the program.

Similar words

granted
awarded
bestowed
vested
official
authorized

Etymology

From confer, from Latin conferre, meaning to bring together, compare, consult, or bestow, through French into English.

FAQ

What does conferred mean?

Conferred can mean formally granted, discussed in consultation, or officially awarded as a status, right, or degree.

Is conferred a verb or an adjective?

It is both: the past tense and past participle of confer, and an adjective meaning officially granted.

Which preposition follows conferred for awards?

Formal awards, titles, and rights are usually conferred on or conferred upon a person or group.

Can conferred mean discussed?

Yes. Conferred can mean consulted or deliberated together, as in judges who conferred before a decision.

What is the base form of conferred?

The base form is confer, with conferred as both the past tense and past participle.

Is confered correct?

No. The correct spelling doubles the r: conferred.

What is a conferred degree?

A conferred degree is a degree that has been officially awarded and recorded by the institution.

Where does conferred come from?

It comes from confer, ultimately from Latin conferre, meaning to bring together, compare, consult, or bestow.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...