preference

noun

pref·er·ence

ˈpre-fərn(t)s,

ˈpre-f(ə-)rən(t)s How to pronounce preference (audio)

: the act of preferring : the state of being preferred

: the power or opportunity of choosing

: one that is preferred

: the act, fact, or principle of giving advantages to some over others

: priority in the right to demand and receive satisfaction of an obligation

offensive, see usage paragraph below : orientation sense 2b

sexual preference

Example Sentences

Car buyers have recently shown a growing preference for smaller vehicles. When it comes to music, everyone has their own preferences. Some people like small cars and some people like big cars. It's a matter of personal preference. She listed her favorite restaurants in order of preference. He has tried not to show preference in giving out jobs. The policy of the school is to give preference to minority candidates. “We could go to an Italian or Chinese restaurant tonight. What's your preference?” “Either one is fine. I don't have a preference.” See More

Recent Examples on the Web However, USA Today’s NBA reporter, Jeff Zillgitt, reports that their preference might be for Bogdanovic alone, given their desire to retain future cap flexibility.

Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 But Varsho said catching is no longer his preference.

Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2022 If lazing about is your preference, this is a fine time to catch up on your napping.

Ed Silverman, STAT, 22 Aug. 2022 If your preference is the latter, opt for laundry room doors that match the overall color palette and style of your home.

Marisa Donnelly, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2022 In this light, if your preference is to stay in your current position, be prepared to make your case for continuing remote work.

Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2022 Supervisor Janice Hahn said her preference would be to stay aligned with the state, which strongly recommends — but does not require — masking indoors while in public.

Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2022 The message was echoed by St. Louis Fed President Jim Bullard, who told Nikkei Asia that his preference was to stick to a hike of three-quarters of a percentage point for now.

Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 15 July 2022 My preference is to stay home and get takeout and watch a movie together.

Annie Lane, oregonlive, 11 July 2022 See More

Legal Definition

preference

noun

pref·er·ence ˈpre-frəns, -fə-rəns How to pronounce preference (audio)

: the right to prior payment of a debt

with preference over the creditors of the heirs or legatees

Louisiana Civil Code

: the transfer of an insolvent debtor's interest in property to a creditor for an earlier debt that gives the creditor more than the creditor would otherwise receive (as under a bankruptcy settlement)

called also voidable preference

compare antecedent debt at debt, fraudulent conveyance, general assignment at assignment

Note: Preferences can be voided by a bankruptcy trustee because they diminish the bankruptcy estate out of which other creditors will be paid. Preferences must be made during a period (as 90 days before the date of filing a bankruptcy petition) established by bankruptcy law in order to be voidable. Perfection or grant of a security interest during this period is also a preference. The bankruptcy law states exceptions under which payments to creditors are not voidable preferences.

: priority

preference

noun

as in favorite

a person or thing that is preferred over others my preference is soul music

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

favorite
speed
pet
fave
darling
minion
cup of tea
beloved
dear
sweetheart
prize
treasure
jewel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

anathema
bugbear
abomination
bête noire

as in liking

positive regard for something a preference for cool weather

Synonyms & Similar Words

liking
like
taste
appetite
use
love
craving
fondness
tendency
desire
partiality
favor
enthusiasm
interest
fancy
relish
thirst
love affair
bias
longing
inclination
prejudice
shine
propensity
weakness
leaning
passion
yen
tooth
bent
palate
hankering
gusto

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dislike
hatred
distaste
aversion
disgust
loathing
indifference
disfavor
disinclination
apathy
mislike
unconcern

as in choice

the power, right, or opportunity to choose he was promised his preference when the time came to repaint his bedroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

choice
option
alternative
way
selection
discretion
pick
liberty
druthers
vote
volition
election
predilection
liking
will
proclivity
say
determination
inclination
free will
propensity
penchant
partiality
tendency
voice
judgment
judgement
discernment
perspicacity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

duty
obligation
force
coercion
duress
Hobson's choice

as in promotion

a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position a long-sought preference to the position of naval commander

Synonyms & Similar Words

promotion
advancement
rise
upgrading
elevation
preferment
ascent
creation
upgrade
aggrandizement
glorification
magnification
exaltation
ennoblement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reduction
degradation
removal
downgrade
demotion
dismissal
suspension
discharge
deposition
abasement
expulsion
impeachment
overthrow
comedown
disrating
ouster
downfall
fall
dethronement
unseating
unmaking

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of preference are alternative, choice, election, option, and selection. While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

The words alternative and preference can be used in similar contexts, but alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

The meanings of choice and preference largely overlap; however, choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

While in some cases nearly identical to preference, election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

Although the words option and preference have much in common, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

The words selection and preference are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

单词	preference
释义	preference noun pref·er·ence ˈpre-fərn(t)s, ˈpre-f(ə-)rən(t)s 1 a : the act of preferring : the state of being preferred b : the power or opportunity of choosing 2 : one that is preferred 3 : the act, fact, or principle of giving advantages to some over others 4 : priority in the right to demand and receive satisfaction of an obligation 5 offensive, see usage paragraph below : orientation sense 2b sexual preference Synonyms darling fave favorite minion pet speed See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Car buyers have recently shown a growing preference for smaller vehicles. When it comes to music, everyone has their own preferences. Some people like small cars and some people like big cars. It's a matter of personal preference. She listed her favorite restaurants in order of preference. He has tried not to show preference in giving out jobs. The policy of the school is to give preference to minority candidates. “We could go to an Italian or Chinese restaurant tonight. What's your preference?” “Either one is fine. I don't have a preference.” See More Recent Examples on the Web However, USA Today’s NBA reporter, Jeff Zillgitt, reports that their preference might be for Bogdanovic alone, given their desire to retain future cap flexibility. Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 But Varsho said catching is no longer his preference. Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2022 If lazing about is your preference, this is a fine time to catch up on your napping. Ed Silverman, STAT, 22 Aug. 2022 If your preference is the latter, opt for laundry room doors that match the overall color palette and style of your home. Marisa Donnelly, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2022 In this light, if your preference is to stay in your current position, be prepared to make your case for continuing remote work. Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2022 Supervisor Janice Hahn said her preference would be to stay aligned with the state, which strongly recommends — but does not require — masking indoors while in public. Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2022 The message was echoed by St. Louis Fed President Jim Bullard, who told Nikkei Asia that his preference was to stick to a hike of three-quarters of a percentage point for now. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 15 July 2022 My preference is to stay home and get takeout and watch a movie together. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 11 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English preferraunce, from Middle French preferance, from Medieval Latin praeferentia, from Latin praeferent-, praeferens, present participle of praeferre First Known Use 1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Phrases Containing preference sexual preference in preference to sexual preference in preference to Kids Definition preference noun pref·er·ence ˈpre-fə-rəns ˈpref-rəns 1 : a choosing of or special liking for one person or thing rather than another or others Buyers are showing a preference for small cars. 2 : the power or chance to choose : choice I gave him his preference. 3 : a person or thing that is liked or wanted more than another My preference is to travel by train. Legal Definition preference noun pref·er·ence ˈpre-frəns, -fə-rəns 1 : the right to prior payment of a debt with preference over the creditors of the heirs or legatees Louisiana Civil Code 2 : the transfer of an insolvent debtor's interest in property to a creditor for an earlier debt that gives the creditor more than the creditor would otherwise receive (as under a bankruptcy settlement) called also voidable preference compare antecedent debt at debt, fraudulent conveyance, general assignment at assignment Note: Preferences can be voided by a bankruptcy trustee because they diminish the bankruptcy estate out of which other creditors will be paid. Preferences must be made during a period (as 90 days before the date of filing a bankruptcy petition) established by bankruptcy law in order to be voidable. Perfection or grant of a security interest during this period is also a preference. The bankruptcy law states exceptions under which payments to creditors are not voidable preferences. 3 : priority preference noun 1 as in favorite a person or thing that is preferred over others my preference is soul music Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance favorite speed pet fave darling minion cup of tea beloved dear sweetheart prize treasure jewel Antonyms & Near Antonyms anathema bugbear abomination bête noire 2 as in liking positive regard for something a preference for cool weather Synonyms & Similar Words liking like taste appetite use love craving fondness tendency desire partiality favor enthusiasm interest fancy relish thirst love affair bias longing inclination prejudice shine propensity weakness leaning passion yen tooth bent palate hankering gusto Antonyms & Near Antonyms dislike hatred distaste aversion disgust loathing indifference disfavor disinclination apathy mislike unconcern See More 3 as in choice the power, right, or opportunity to choose he was promised his preference when the time came to repaint his bedroom Synonyms & Similar Words choice option alternative way selection discretion pick liberty druthers vote volition election predilection liking will proclivity say determination inclination free will propensity penchant partiality tendency voice judgment judgement discernment perspicacity Antonyms & Near Antonyms duty obligation force coercion duress Hobson's choice 4 as in promotion a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position a long-sought preference to the position of naval commander Synonyms & Similar Words promotion advancement rise upgrading elevation preferment ascent creation upgrade aggrandizement glorification magnification exaltation ennoblement Antonyms & Near Antonyms reduction degradation removal downgrade demotion dismissal suspension discharge deposition abasement expulsion impeachment overthrow comedown disrating ouster downfall fall dethronement unseating unmaking See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of preference are alternative, choice, election, option, and selection. While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections. a preference for cool weather The words alternative and preference can be used in similar contexts, but alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility. equally attractive alternatives The meanings of choice and preference largely overlap; however, choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely. freedom of choice While in some cases nearly identical to preference, election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment. doing a tax return forces certain elections on you Although the words option and preference have much in common, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed. the option of paying now or later The words selection and preference are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, selection implies a range of choice. a varied selection of furniture
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preference

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing preference

Kids Definition

noun

Legal Definition

noun

noun

Synonym Chooser