# transference

/tɹænsˈfɝəns/ (US) · /tɹænsfˈɜːɹəns/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/transference
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.