proffer

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verb

prof·​fer ˈprä-fər How to pronounce proffer (audio)
proffered; proffering ˈprä-f(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce proffer (audio)

transitive verb

: to present for acceptance : tender, offer

intransitive verb

US law
: to offer to take part in a proffer session
decided that an indictment was unlikely and there was no reason to proffer

proffer

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noun

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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.

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
Verb
Nonetheless, two predictions: President Biden won’t proffer a comprehensive plan to address the federal debt. Amity Shlaes, National Review, 7 Mar. 2024 This article proffers twelve considerations for a digital talent management strategy. Mark A. Cohen, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Some travelers, despite previously opting into the program, still proffered identification, only for the officer to wave it away. Christine Chung, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 But given the revelations contained in Kading’s 2011 book and the 2015 Dorsey documentary, how could the leader of the investigation not know about the existence of the Davis proffer agreement before 2018? John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2024 Los Angeles is lousy with pitches—unsolicited ideas proffered in elevators, at buffet spreads, while waiting for the barista to brew a chagaccino. Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024 Analysts contend that the United States, for all its distractions, still offers Africans something more intangible than the shiny infrastructure proffered by Beijing. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2024 The dream of everybody having blue bubbles, and epic photos of perfectly digestible meals, as proffered by Beeper. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 14 Dec. 2023 The image is gross, but there is also something alluring and even sensual about it—the red puckered edges around the scab proffering it like a shiny gem, set in a prong. Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023
Noun
What remains unclear is when Las Vegas police learned of the proffer’s existence and substance. John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2024 The proffer information could not be used to charge Davis, but his statements since were part of the evidence presented to the grand jury this year. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2024 Watkins was required to approve transactions of employees who had those cards, according to the proffer. Nicole Asbury, Washington Post, 30 June 2023 The proximity of the general election would create stronger incentives for Harris or any other disappointed loser to accept a behind-the-scenes proffer and fall in line if the convention battle doesn’t go their way. Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2024 The drugged soldiers stumbled and had difficulty keeping their balance, the court proffer read. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2024 In a proffer, a defendant offers information that person knows about a crime, often as part of a plea deal. Holmes Lybrand, CNN, 24 Oct. 2023 Kading said that Davis, under the proffer, could not incriminate himself in the interview. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023 The Washington Post later reported on those proffer videos, in addition to videos of Kenneth Chesebro and Scott Hall, two other defendants who took plea deals in the case. Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'proffer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English profren, from Anglo-French profrer, proffrir, porofrir, from por- forth (from Latin pro-) + offrir to offer — more at pro-

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of proffer was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near proffer

Cite this Entry

“Proffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proffer. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

proffer

verb
prof·​fer
ˈpräf-ər
proffered; proffering
ˈpräf-(ə-)riŋ
proffer noun

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