efferent

UK: /ˈɛfərənt/ US: (ef′ər ənt)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ef•fer•ent  (ef′ər ənt), [Anat., Physiol.]
adj. 

1. Anatomy, Physiology conveying or conducting away from an organ or part (opposed to afferent).

n. 

2. Anatomy, Physiology an efferent part, as a nerve or blood vessel.

• Latin efferent- (stem of efferēns carrying off, present participle of efferre), equivalent. to ef- ef- + ferent- carrying (fer- carry + -ent- -ent)
• 1830–40

ef′fer•ence, n. 
ef′fer•ent•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

efferent / ˈɛfərənt/ adjective

1. carrying or conducting outwards from a part or an organ of the body, esp from the brain or spinal cord
   Compare afferent

Etymology: 19th Century: from Latin efferre to bear off, from ferre to bear

ˈefference noun