proffered; proffering
ˈprä-f(ə-)riŋ 
US law
: to offer to take part in a proffer session
decided that an indictment was unlikely and there was no reason to proffer
1
: offer, suggestion
2
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
Tetiana Kotelnykova, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Emily Griesinger of the Azusa Pacific University proffers a different point of view.
—JSTOR Daily, 12 Oct. 2025
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Sources close to the investigation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, say the prosecution team had completed a proffer deal with Resorts World just before the election and was awaiting a sign-off from upper management in the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.
—David Amsden, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proffer
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Verb
But recent history suggests that its mission would have less to do with proffering aid than with complementing the Kremlin’s liberal use of brute force.
—Tetiana Kotelnykova, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Emily Griesinger of the Azusa Pacific University proffers a different point of view.
—JSTOR Daily, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
In a proffer, a defendant provides information to prosecutors in exchange for a plea deal or leniency.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Sources close to the investigation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, say the prosecution team had completed a proffer deal with Resorts World just before the election and was awaiting a sign-off from upper management in the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.
—David Amsden, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proffer
Cite this Entry
“Proffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proffer. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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