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
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
Make the dough: Add the flour, whole eggs, egg yolk (reserve the white for brushing on later), honey, oil, ground coriander, orange zest and salt to the preferment.
—
Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 16 Dec. 2024
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
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
Think of a preferment like a head start towards fermentation.
—Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 11 Oct. 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 16 Dec. 2024
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
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
Think of a preferment like a head start towards fermentation.
—Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 11 Oct. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Preferment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preferment. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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