transfer

1 of 2

verb

trans·​fer tran(t)s-ˈfər  ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər 

transferred; transferring

transitive verb

1

a

: to convey from one person, place, or situation to another : move, shift

b

: to cause to pass from one to another : transmit

c

: transform, change

2

: to make over the possession or control of : convey

3

: to print or otherwise copy from one surface to another by contact

intransitive verb

1

: to move to a different place, region, or situation

especially : to withdraw from one educational institution to enroll at another

2

: to change from one vehicle or transportation line to another

transferability

(ˌ)tran(t)s-ˌfər-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

transferable adjective

or less commonly transferrable

tran(t)s-ˈfər-ə-bəl 

transferal

tran(t)s-ˈfər-əl 

noun

transferrer

tran(t)s-ˈfər-ər 

noun

transfer

2 of 2

noun

trans·​fer ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər 

1

a

: conveyance of right, title, or interest in real or personal property from one person to another

b

: removal or acquisition of property by mere delivery with intent to transfer title

2

a

: an act, process, or instance of transferring : transference sense 2

b

: the carryover or generalization of learned responses from one type of situation to another

3

: one that transfers or is transferred

especially : a graphic image transferred by contact from one surface to another

4

: a place where a transfer is made (as of trains to ferries or as where one form of power is changed to another)

5

: a ticket entitling a passenger on a public conveyance to continue the trip on another route

Synonyms of transfer

Verb

• cede
• assign
• convey
• relinquish

Examples of transfer in a Sentence

Verb

We transferred the baby's car seat to the other car.

The patient was transferred to a different hospital.

transfer data on the hard drive to a disk

He transferred my call to another line.

The virus is transferred by mosquitoes.

He transferred control of the company to his son.

She was able to transfer her organizational skills to her new job.

Her skills transferred well to her new job.

Noun

We switched to another car, and the transfer only took a few minutes.

They arranged for a transfer of the prisoner to a different prison.

a material that reduces heat transfer

speeding up data transfer between computers

We are doing everything possible to ensure a smooth transfer to the new system.

a transfer by deed or will

a transfer to the home office

My overseas transfer has been approved.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

He's often seen joking with or getting tips from players such as Hacopian, the star second baseman who transferred in this offseason. —Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026

The two hundred and fifty people in residence at Bellevue would be transferred to other shelters this month, and men’s intake would move to a shelter on East Third Street—the same site where it was situated decades ago, before Bellevue took over. —Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026

Noun

Howe’s first excursion into the Champions League stretched the squad to translucency, while executive churn, financial restrictions and then a summer of carnage in the transfer market have been challenges to overcome. —George Caulkin, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026

The transfer portal may have been limited to a 15-day window this year, but preparing for it, as college football personnel department members will tell you, is a year-long job. —Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English transferren, from Anglo-French transferrer, from Latin transferre, from trans- + ferre to carry — more at bear

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing transfer

• asynchronous transfer mode
• co-transfer
• electronic funds transfer
• embryo transfer
• gamete intrafallopian transfer
• hypertext transfer protocol
• negative transfer
• passive transfer
• transfer factor
• transfer payment
• transfer RNA
• transfer station
• wire transfer
• zygote intrafallopian transfer

Rhymes for transfer

• chauffeur
• cockspur
• concur
• confer
• defer
• demur
• deter
• hotspur
• incur
• infer
• inter
• jagir

Kids Definition

transfer

1 of 2 verb

trans·​fer tran(t)s-ˈfər  ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər 

transferred; transferring

1

a

: to pass from one person, place, or situation to another

b

: to cause to pass from one to another

2

: to give over the possession or ownership of

3

: to move to a different place, region, or situation

especially : to withdraw from one school to enroll at another

4

: to change from one vehicle or transportation line to another

transferable

tran(t)s-ˈfər-ə-bəl

adjective

transferal

-ˈfər-əl 

noun

transfer

2 of 2 noun

trans·​fer ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər 

1

: a giving over of right, title, or interest in property by one person to another

2

: an act, process, or example of transferring

3

: one that transfers or is transferred

4

: a graphic image transferred by contact from one surface to another

5

: a place where a transfer is made (as from trains to ferries)

6

: a ticket permitting a passenger on a bus or train to continue the journey by another route

Etymology

Verb

Middle English transferren "to transfer," from Latin transferre (same meaning), from trans- "across, through" and ferre "to bear, carry" — related to defer entry 1, fertile

Medical Definition

transfer

noun

trans·​fer ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər 

1

: transference

2

: the carryover or generalization of learned responses from one type of situation to another see negative transfer

Legal Definition

transfer

1 of 2 transitive verb

trans·​fer trans-ˈfər, ˈtrans-ˌfər 

transferred; transferring

: to cause a transfer of

transferability

trans-ˌfər-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē, ˌtrans-fər- 

noun

transferable adjective

also transferrable

trans-ˈfər-ə-bəl 

transferor

trans-fər-ˈȯr, trans-ˈfər-ər 

noun

transferral

trans-ˈfər-əl

noun

transfer

2 of 2 noun

trans·​fer ˈtrans-ˌfər 

1

: a conveyance of a right, title, or interest in real or personal property from one person or entity to another

2

: a passing of something from one to another

transfer of venue

the transfer of power