disfavor
Americannoun
-
unfavorable regard; displeasure; disesteem; dislike.
The prime minister incurred the king's disfavor.
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the state of being regarded unfavorably; disrepute.
The fashions of one year are in disfavor the next.
-
a disadvantageous or detrimental act; disservice.
The pianist did himself a disfavor in trying to sing.
verb (used with object)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of disfavor
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."
Vocabulary lists containing disfavor
"American Names"
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Dislike, List 2
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Dislike
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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.
That harm is firmly anchored in a branch of privacy law that has long been recognized, but has fallen into disfavor in recent years.
From Slate ● Jan. 15, 2026
Once a former U.S. ally, Noriega fell into disfavor after engaging in electoral fraud.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 3, 2026
But many individual investors also have the ability to press the eject button on stocks that they disfavor, all on their own.
From New York Times ● May 11, 2024
That requires service members of all ranks to be apolitical, deferential, obedient, compliant, and silent, whatever the circumstances and without expectation of compensatory favor or disfavor.
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2023
While some great naturalists still praised her books, she fell into disfavor with a scientific establishment that increasingly rejected the work of self-taught amateurs.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
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.
