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Synonyms

favorite

American  
[fey-ver-it, feyv-rit] / ˈfeɪ vər ɪt, ˈfeɪv rɪt /
especially British, favourite

noun

  1. a person or thing regarded with special favor or preference.

    That song is an old favorite of mine.

  2. Sports. a competitor considered likely to win.

  3. a person or thing popular with the public.

  4. a person treated with special or undue favor by a king, official, etc..

    favorites at the court.

  5. Digital Technology. bookmark.

adjective

  1. regarded with particular favor or preference.

    a favorite child.

Usage

Spelling tips for favorite The word favorite is hard to spell for two reasons. First, in British English it is spelled with a u (favourite), unlike the American English spelling favorite. Second, the final e is silent.How to spell favorite:  When you do someone a favor, you don't do it for yourself. So, there is no u in favor. Now that we have the beginning of the word down, how do we remember the e in -ite? Well, it wouldn't be anything without an Ending (an e at the end). Put the two together and you get favorite.

Other Word Forms

  • nonfavorite noun
  • prefavorite noun
  • unfavorite adjective

Etymology

Origin of favorite

First recorded in 1575–85; from Middle French, from Italian favorito, “favored,” past participle of favorire “to favor, support,” from favore “favor, goodwill”; favor, -ite 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The two entered the stretch together before Meaning, the 9-10 favorite ridden by Juan Hernandez, pulled away for a two-length victory.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

He celebrated wins by playing music by his favorite rapper, the Notorious B.I.G., on the trading desk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

“I reach out to my favorite stars, my favorite celebrities, and I go, ‘It’s Kendra.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Gen Z’s favorite slow fashion brand, Damson Madder, is releasing its summer season “see-now-buy-now collection” that’s part-beach, part-city.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

He knows what kind of notebook I like, and he remembers my old favorite color.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.