Showing results for "favour"

• a variation of favor.

favour

American  

[fey-ver] / ˈfeɪ vər /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. favor.

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favour British  

/ ˈfeɪvə /

noun

1. an approving attitude; good will

2. an act performed out of good will, generosity, or mercy

3. prejudice and partiality; favouritism

4. a condition of being regarded with approval or good will (esp in the phrases in favour , out of favour )

5. archaic leave; permission

6. a token of love, goodwill, etc

7. a small gift or toy given to a guest at a party

8. history a badge or ribbon worn or given to indicate loyalty, often bestowed on a knight by a lady

9. obsolete a communication, esp a business letter

10. archaic appearance

11. to be approved of by someone

12. 1. approving

    2. to the benefit of

    3. (of a cheque, etc) made out to

    4. in order to show preference for

       I rejected him in favour of George

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verb

1. to regard with especial kindness or approval

2. to treat with partiality or favouritism

3. to support; advocate

4. to perform a favour for; oblige

5. to help; facilitate

6. informal to resemble

   he favours his father

7. to wear habitually

   she favours red

8. to treat gingerly or with tenderness; spare

   a footballer favouring an injured leg

Spelling

See -or ¹.

Other Word Forms

• favourer
  noun
• favouringly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of favour

C14: from Latin, from favēre to protect

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

favour

Some critics saw this is a way of avoiding serious scrutiny of polices in favour of softball questions from non-specialists.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

While many parents might be in favour of shortening the school summer holiday to four weeks, the same report by Parentkind found that only 24% of teachers supported the idea.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

But not all sectors are in favour of watering it down.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

A poll conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun last month found only 23 percent of people in favour of the sons of re-adopted imperial family members becoming emperor, and 34 percent against.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

And how could it be supposed that his uncle and aunt would spare him again?’ and so forth—I always felt that something would happen in our favour; and so it has, you see.

From "Emma" by Jane Austen