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Synonyms

preferable

American  
[pref-er-uh-buhl, pref-ruh-, pri-fur-] / ˈprɛf ər ə bəl, ˈprɛf rə-, prɪˈfɜr- /

adjective

  1. more desirable.

  2. worthy to be preferred.

preferable British  
/ ˈprɛfrəbəl, ˈprɛfərəbəl /

adjective

  1. preferred or more desirable

"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

Usage

Since preferable already means more desirable, one should not say something is more preferable or most preferable

Other Word Forms

  • nonpreferability noun
  • nonpreferable adjective
  • nonpreferableness noun
  • nonpreferably adverb
  • preferability noun
  • preferableness noun
  • preferably adverb
  • unpreferable adjective
  • unpreferableness noun
  • unpreferably adverb

Etymology

Origin of preferable

From the French word préfsptérable, dating back to 1640–50. See prefer, -able

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.