fa·vor·it·ism \ˈfāv(ə)rə̇]d.ˌizəm, -vər], ]ˌdi-\noun (-s) 1.: the treating of one person, family, or class of men with special favor or partiality to the correlative neglect of others < favoritism in federal tax legislation — C.S.Shoup > < the workers think that most raises are based on favoritism — S.L.Payne > 2.: the state or fact of being a favorite