Word
transference
Phoneticstrans·fer·ence, stress on the second syllable
US/tɹænsˈfɝəns/
UK/tɹænsfˈɜːɹəns/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the act of moving something from one place or person to another. In psychology, it also means when you start to feel about someone else the same way you felt about a person from your past.
n. the act of transferring or the state of being transferred from one person, place, or thing to another. In psychoanalytic theory, it refers to the redirection of feelings, often unconsciously, from one person to another.
Examples
“The transfer of the files took several hours.”
“The patient's intense feelings of anger toward his therapist were a clear example of transference from his childhood.”
“The successful transference of power from the outgoing administration to the new government required meticulous coordination and a shared commitment to transparency.”
Examples
simple
“The transfer of the files took several hours.”
contextual
“The patient's intense feelings of anger toward his therapist were a clear example of transference from his childhood.”
complex
“The successful transference of power from the outgoing administration to the new government required meticulous coordination and a shared commitment to transparency.”
Real-World Examples
“It means the patient can’t see a therapist's face and is encouraged to use free association and transference to share their deepest thoughts, with sessions sometimes necessary over several years.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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