Confer is a verb with two main meanings. It can mean to formallyin an official or proper way, following accepted rules give something, such as a degree or honor, or it can mean to discusstalk about a topic with others in order to decide something something with other people and reach an agreementa shared decision or understanding reached by two or more people or decision.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /kən-FUR/
Easy pronunciation: kun-FUR (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the second syllable.
Used in the sense of formally giving or awarding something official.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Confer Meaning
to give an honor, title, or degree officially
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to formally give or award something to someone
Example: The university conferred a degree on its most famous former student.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bestow — Works well when something official or ceremonial is being given.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Confer
Meaning 2
to discuss something with others
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to have a meeting or discussion to talk something over
Example: We conferred about a plan of action.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- consult — A natural substitute when people discuss a plan or decision together.
- confab — Informal; fits the sense of talking together.
- confabulate — Possible in this sense, though less common and more formal or literary.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Confer Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- bestow
to discuss something with others
- consult
- confab
- confabulate
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse confer in the sense of 'give officially' with confer in the sense of 'talk over with someone'.
- Confabulate can mean 'confer' here, but in modern English it is also often used in a different sense, so it is less natural than consult.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does confer mean?
Confer can mean to formally give something, like a degree or honor, or to talk something over with other people.
What is the most common synonym for confer?
In the 'give officially' sense, bestow is the closest synonym. In the 'discuss' sense, consult is the clearest everyday synonym.
Is confer the same as consult?
Not always. Consult matches only the meaning 'talk over with someone,' not the meaning 'formally give.'
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
