# preference

Pronunciation: say "PREF-runs" /ˈpɹɛf(ə)ɹ(ə)ns/

## Noun

1. A strong liking for something, or the personal value someone places on it.
   - Simple: A strong liking for one thing more than others.
   - _Her lifelong preference for classical music came from her grandfather._
   - _Voters expressed a clear preference for candidates who promised lower taxes._
2. The act of choosing one thing or person over others, usually expressed as a preference for that option.
   - Simple: The act of choosing one thing or person instead of others.
   - _The committee's preference for renewable sources guided every funding decision._
   - _Customers signaled a marked preference for online ordering over phone calls._
3. The opportunity to select one option over others, and the particular option that is chosen.
   - Simple: The chance to choose one thing, and the thing you end up choosing.
   - _The form lets you state a preference for either a window or an aisle seat._
   - _When asked about dessert, she said vanilla was her preference._
4. The condition of being chosen or favored ahead of others when a selection is made.
   - Simple: Being chosen or wanted more than others.
   - _Returning customers are given preference for the limited concert tickets._
   - _Under the new policy, in-state applicants enjoy preference in admissions._
5. A bias or partiality that favors one person or group over others, often unfairly.
   - Simple: Unfair favoring of one person or group over others.
   - _Critics accused the board of showing preference to companies run by its own members._
   - _The investigation uncovered systematic preference in how contracts were awarded._
7. A card game, played principally in Eastern Europe, in which players bid against one another over hands.
   - Simple: A card game played mostly in Eastern Europe.
   - _The three friends settled in for a few rounds of preference after dinner._
   - _Cards and scoring pads came out, and another evening of preference began._

## Verb

6. To give preferential treatment to a person or thing; to favor one option above others. *(US)*
   - Simple: To treat someone or something better than others on purpose.
   - _Some agencies preference veterans when filling open positions._
   - _The grant program preferences first-time applicants over repeat recipients._

## Origin

From Middle French preference, itself from Medieval Latin preferentia; a doublet of preferans. Morphologically it breaks down as 'prefer' plus the suffix '-ence'.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/preference (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).