preferment

noun

pre·​fer·​ment pri-ˈfər-mənt 

1

a

: advancement or promotion in dignity, office, or station

b

: a position or office of honor or profit

2

: priority or seniority in right especially to receive payment or to purchase property on equal terms with others

3

: the act of bringing forward

preferment of charges

Synonyms

• advancement
• ascent
• creation
• elevation
• preference
• promotion
• rise
• upgrade
• upgrading

Examples of preferment in a Sentence

He has hopes for preferment.

anticipated her preferment to a better-paying position within the company

Recent Examples on the Web

The evolution of the dough at Flour + Water OG was inspired by their research and development at Flour + Water Pizzeria and the findings of what a preferment does to the complexity of that dough. —Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

But what is a preferment, really? —Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 11 Oct. 2020

The Communist government’s leadership compound in Beijing, Zhongnanhai, more and more resembles an imperial palace where royal favorites jockey for preferment and titles. —Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2022

Government patronage, rather than innovation and the service of one’s neighbor, becomes the path to preferment, and innovation is consequently replaced by lobbying and supplication for special status. —Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 12 Aug. 2021

Working-class Protestants are watching the new global economy select their old tribal enemies for preferment while they themselves are left behind. —Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 15 Apr. 2021

Why should the government give yet another preferment to investment in upgrading the human capital of the affluent, over the capital investments of other entrepreneurs and workers? —Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 21 Nov. 2020

Think of a preferment like a head start towards fermentation. —Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 11 Oct. 2020

MPs’ natural wish to support their prime minister, their own ambitions for preferment and the whips’ cruel ways all make for a reluctance to rock the boat. —The Economist, 21 June 2018

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

preferment

noun

pre·​fer·​ment pri-ˈfər-mənt 

1

: advancement or promotion in dignity, office, or rank

2

: a position or office of honor or importance

Legal Definition

preferment

noun

pre·​fer·​ment pri-ˈfər-mənt 

1

: advancement or promotion in office or station

2

: the act of preferring (as charges)

without preferment of allegations