offer
OFF-er
/ˈɒfər/
A formal expression of willingness to employ someone under specific terms.
An 'offer' is the turning point where the power shifts from the employer to the candidate, who must now decide whether to accept.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'offerre', meaning 'to present or bring before'. You are 'bringing' a job 'toward' someone for their consideration.
Word relationships
- proposal: A proposal is a general suggestion; an offer is a specific legal or professional invitation.
- bid: A bid is usually an offer of money for a service or item in a competitive setting.
- rejection: The refusal of an application or a proposal.
Commonly confused with
- contract: An offer is the invitation; the contract is the legally binding document signed after the offer is accepted.
Word family
- offering (noun): Something that is produced or presented.
Collocations
- job offer
- make an offer
- accept an offer
Example sentences
- "The candidate declined the initial offer, citing a desire for a higher starting salary and more vacation days." Negotiation
- ""He held the offer letter in his hand, feeling the weight of the decision he had to make."" Literature
Memory hook
When you offer something, you 'off-er' it (bring it off your plate and toward theirs). Offer = Bring toward.
When not to use
In a casual sense, it can mean a suggestion; in hiring, it must be a formal proposal of employment.
Fun facts
- In the 14th century, an 'offer' was specifically a physical gift brought to a church or a king.
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