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favouritism

British  
/ ˈfeɪvərɪˌtɪzəm, ˈfeɪvrɪ- /

noun

  1. the practice of giving special treatment to a person or group

  2. the state of being treated as a favourite

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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It also found a postcode lottery system of promotion, with some officers raising concerns about nepotism and favouritism, as well as limited investment in leadership development.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

"But the oversupply and favouritism of coal power is an important factor," added Lauri Myllyvirta, co-founder of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, and contributor to the report.

From Barron's ● May 20, 2026

While figures from May suggest China's coal generation may have dropped again, "the problem of excess coal capacity and entrenched favouritism of coal in the grid remain", he told AFP.

From Barron's ● May 20, 2026

She alleged she encountered team leaders displaying favouritism towards other staff, they were often highly critical and sometimes lacked empathy which she said created a "toxic environment".

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026

Of course, officially, guardians weren’t supposed to show favouritism, but there were little displays of affection all the time within certain parameters; and most of what Ruth suggested fell easily within them.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

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