preference

American  

[pref-er-uhns, pref-ruhns] / ˈprɛf ər əns, ˈprɛf rəns /

noun

• preferences
  plural

1. the act of preferring.

2. the state of being preferred.

3. that which is preferred; choice.

   His preference is vanilla, not chocolate.

   Synonyms:

   pick, selection

4. a practical advantage given to one over others.

5. a prior right or claim, as to payment of dividends or to assets upon dissolution.

6. the favoring of one country or group of countries by granting special advantages over others in international trade.

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preference British  

/ ˈprɛfrəns, ˈprɛfərəns /

noun

1. the act of preferring

2. something or someone preferred

3. law

   1. the settling of the claims of one or more creditors before or to the exclusion of those of the others

   2. a prior right to payment, as of a dividend or share in the assets of a company in the event of liquidation

4. commerce the granting of favour or precedence to particular foreign countries, as by levying differential tariffs

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Synonym Usage

See choice.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpreference
  noun
• self-preference
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• preferences
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of preference

From the Medieval Latin word praeferentia, dating back to 1595–1605. See prefer, -ence

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Explanation

If you have a strong liking for something, you have a preference for it. You might have a preference for apples, but there are some days when you're stuck eating a banana instead. If you grant favors to one person over another, then you are showing a preference or bias. The United States often gives preference to traditional allies like Britain or Canada. In your science class, it's clear that the professor has a preference for certain students and calls on them more often. Preference also refers to a choice or the right to choose — your friend might have a strong preference for which movie you'll see tonight.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

preference preferences

“My preference would be to have the ability to do short-term rental,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

Recruitment was praised in summer 2025, when Senne Lammens was signed ahead of Emi Martinez, who was Amorim's preference, and Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, plus Sesko, reinvigorated United's attack.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Novack generally shuns them but understands it is a personal preference for those who can afford it.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

While publishers “exhibited a strong preference for. . . what might be called ‘highbrow works,’ ” Ms. Manning observes, the favorites among enlisted men ran more to “westerns, mysteries, stories of adventure and page-turning fiction.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

After Seymour, Zooey, the youngest boy in the family, is generally placed second in order of preference, or appeal.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

That brings us to the AI camp’s regulatory preferences.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

We want our preferences remembered, our mistakes corrected and our food ready precisely when promised.

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026

This is due in part to changing preferences, which the report’s writers said are likely attributable to financial costs, a lack of social support, shifting societal norms, and safety and health concerns about having children.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

But the schools that best matched our cultural and social preferences weren’t necessarily those that would best prepare our daughters academically.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

They would reveal their actual preferences later, in confidential e-mails to the people they wanted to date.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

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Related Words

• choice
• desire
• inclination
• option
• predilection
• weakness

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