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

Etymology

Origin of preference

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

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

Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson said consumers have been "very resilient," with the company observing no shifts in vehicle preference due to higher gasoline prices resulting from the US-Iran war.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

Rogers created Gordon's goal against Argentina and Tuchel's decision was shaped as much by fitness management as tactical preference.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

Despite its preference for Democratic governors, Colorado was, until not that long ago, a competitive two-party state.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026

My wife works, but it’s more her personal preference and doesn’t generate any significant income.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

“And, upon my word, they have an air of great probability. Mr. Dixon’s preference of her music to her friend’s, I can answer for being very decided.”

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

Ask your guests about their allergies and snack preferences then put together a snack basket.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

On July 30, the 15 members of the Security Council are due to hold their first closed-door, anonymous vote on their preferences among the candidates.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

But his approach is direct indexing — he uses Frec.com, one of Social Leverage’s “big investments” — so he can tailor an index like the S&P 500 to his preferences.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

As a result, only about 20-30% of India's eligible exports are estimated to use FTA preferences even though import-side utilisation rates are much higher.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Unused as I was to being asked my preferences, I took a moment to reply.

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

Related Words

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