favour
Americannoun
noun
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an approving attitude; good will
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an act performed out of good will, generosity, or mercy
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prejudice and partiality; favouritism
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a condition of being regarded with approval or good will (esp in the phrases in favour , out of favour )
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archaic leave; permission
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a token of love, goodwill, etc
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a small gift or toy given to a guest at a party
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history a badge or ribbon worn or given to indicate loyalty, often bestowed on a knight by a lady
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obsolete a communication, esp a business letter
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archaic appearance
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to be approved of by someone
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approving
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to the benefit of
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(of a cheque, etc) made out to
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in order to show preference for
I rejected him in favour of George
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verb
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to regard with especial kindness or approval
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to treat with partiality or favouritism
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to support; advocate
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to perform a favour for; oblige
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to help; facilitate
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informal to resemble
he favours his father
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to wear habitually
she favours red
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to treat gingerly or with tenderness; spare
a footballer favouring an injured leg
Spelling
See -or 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of favour
C14: from Latin, from favēre to protect
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.
If they vote in favour it will have cleared its first major hurdle and the next stage will allow MPs to consider possible amendments at committee stage.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
If a new queen survives until her first brood emerges as adult workers, though, then the odds are in her favour as she no longer needs to undertake risky foraging.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
Last time MPs voted on assisted dying in June, 315 were in favour and 291 against.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
She could be worried about sounding too "hawkish" -- in favour of further monetary tightening -- for fear of further driving up eurozone bond yields after a recent surge.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
Towards Joe, and Joe only, I considered myself a young monster, while they sat debating what results would come to me from Miss Havisham’s acquaintance and favour.
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
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.
