disfavor

American  

[dis-fey-ver] / dɪsˈfeɪ vər /

especially British, disfavour

noun

1. unfavorable regard; displeasure; disesteem; dislike.

   The prime minister incurred the king's disfavor.

2. the state of being regarded unfavorably; disrepute.

   The fashions of one year are in disfavor the next.

3. a disadvantageous or detrimental act; disservice.

   The pianist did himself a disfavor in trying to sing.

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verb (used with object)

1. to regard or treat with disfavor.

Other Word Forms

• disfavorer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of disfavor

First recorded in 1525–35; dis- ¹ + favor

Explanation

When you disapprove of someone, you disfavor them. The wicked stepmother in "Cinderella" favored her own daughters but disfavored poor Cinderella. Thank goodness for that glass slipper. You probably know your parents well enough that it's perfectly obvious when you've fallen into their disfavor. This probably only means they're annoyed or angry at you, although in some cases disfavor can mean true dislike. You can also use this word as a verb: "The political system disfavors people who don't have much money."

Example Sentences

It was the stick he waved around the world to achieve his foreign policy aims, to show favor and disfavor, to offer or withhold exemptions to courtiers.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026

Once a former U.S. ally, Noriega fell into disfavor after engaging in electoral fraud.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

That shaving scene referenced earlier dramatizes why this and other supposedly neutral policies painfully disfavor some people without diving into a medical manual.

From Salon • Oct. 10, 2025

That there is nothing new to see here is not in the series’ disfavor.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2025

"When I return with her heart, there will be years aplenty for all of us," she said, eyeing her sisters' hairy chins and hollow eyes with disfavor.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

Related Words

• disapprobation
• disapproval
• dislike
• displeasure
• dissatisfaction