If you have a preferencefor something, you would like to have or do that thing rather than something else.
Parents can express a preference for the school their child attends. [+ for]
Many of these products were bought in preference to their own. [+ to]
2. uncountable noun
If you give preferenceto someone with a particular qualification or feature, you choose them rather than someone else.
Firms often give preference to present employees in promotions, transfers, and othercareer-enhancing opportunities. [+ to]
More Synonyms of preference
preference in British English
(ˈprɛfərəns, ˈprɛfrəns)
noun
1.
the act of preferring
2.
something or someone preferred
3. law
a.
the settling of the claims of one or more creditors before or to the exclusion of those of the others
b.
a prior right to payment, as of a dividend or share in the assets of a company in the event of liquidation
4. business
the granting of favour or precedence to particular foreign countries, as by levying differential tariffs
preference in American English
(ˈprɛfərəns)
noun
1.
a preferring or being preferred; greater liking
2.
the right, power, or opportunity of prior choice or claim
3.
something preferred; one's first choice
4.
a.
a giving of priority or advantage to one person, country, etc. over others, as in payment of debts or granting of credit
b.
such priority or advantage
SIMILAR WORDS: choice
Word origin
MFr préférence < ML praeferentia < L praeferens, prp. of praeferre, to prefer
Examples of 'preference' in a sentence
preference
Long may this revolution in consumer preferences continue.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Allow for personal taste and preference.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His audience have so far expressed a preference to sing about wipers and wheels.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Two drivers in the hunt and a determination not to give one preference over the other.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Whether an ointment or a cream is used is really a matter of personal preference.
Orton, Christine Eczema Relief - the comprehensive self-help plan (1990)
Why should the preference of one group be favoured?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We tried to make our diverse preferences a strength rather than a weakness.
Christianity Today (2000)
Here is the other odd thing about legacy preferences.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Beware of the trap of not expressing any preferences at all.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
To do this may require them to set aside personal and cultural preferences.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This extreme cultural relativism allows no preference for one form of society over another.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Sometimes men are driven into flexible working by the demands of the business rather than personal preference.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Anyone who does not express a preference will be transferred to our direct debit tariff.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This may require you to set aside your personal and cultural preferences to provideeffective care.
The Sun (2013)
But we find it difficult to explain a general preference for dividends other than in terms of an irrational prejudice.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
The bus company gives them preference.
Sanderson, Stephen K. Macrosociology: An Introduction to Human Societies (1995)
They should be given more preference over imports and more help to export, he said.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That means that preferences are weighted: lower preferences give fewer points than higher ones.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It really is just a matter of remembering to do these things in preference to other habits that have become natural over the years.
MacEoin, Beth Healthy By Nature (1994)
I have no particular preference, so long as it is hot and sunny.
The Sun (2011)
I would choose this in preference to the much-hyped alternative of a Sipp.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
preference
British English: preference /ˈprɛfərəns; ˈprɛfrəns/ NOUN
If you have a preference for something, you would like to have or do that thing rather than something else.
His designs show a preference for natural materials.
American English: preference
Arabic: تَفْضِيل
Brazilian Portuguese: preferência
Chinese: 偏爱
Croatian: sklonost
Czech: preference
Danish: præference
Dutch: voorkeur
European Spanish: preferencia
Finnish: mieltymys
French: préférence
German: Vorzug
Greek: προτίμηση
Italian: preferenza
Japanese: 好み
Korean: 선호도
Norwegian: preferanse
Polish: preferencja
European Portuguese: preferência
Romanian: preferință
Russian: предпочтение
Latin American Spanish: preferencia
Swedish: preferens
Thai: การชอบมากกว่า
Turkish: tercih
Ukrainian: перевага
Vietnamese: sự thích hơn
All related terms of 'preference'
preference share
a share of preferred stock
preference shares
Preference shares are shares in a company that are owned by people who have the right to receive part of the company's profits before the holders of ordinary shares are paid. They also have the right to have their capital repaid if the company fails and has to close . Compare → ordinary shares .
preference stock
shares representing part of the capital issued by a company and entitling their holders to priority with respect to both net profit and net assets . Preference shares usually carry a definite rate of dividend that is generally lower than that declared on ordinary shares
sexual preference
Someone's sexual preference is the same as their → sexual orientation .
customer preference
Customer preference is what type of product an individual customer likes and dislikes .
imperial preference
a proposed system whereby free trade and levelled tariffs would exist between nations belonging to the British Commonwealth , in order to increase the prosperity of and unity between these nation
liquidity preference
the desire to hold money rather than other assets , in Keynsian theory based on motives of transactions , precaution , and speculation
Chinese translation of 'preference'
preference
(ˈprɛfrəns)
n(c/u)
偏爱(愛) (piān'ài)
to have a preference for sth/for doing sth偏爱(愛)某物/做某事 (piān'ài mǒuwù/zuò mǒushì)
in preference to sth更倾(傾)向于(於)某事 (gèng qīngxiàng yú mǒushì)
to give preference to sb给(給)某人以优(優)待 (gěi mǒurén yǐ yōudài)
1 (noun)
Definition
a liking for one thing above the rest
Whatever your preference, we have a product to suit you.
Synonyms
liking
She had a liking for good clothes.
wish
Clearly she had no wish for his company.
taste
She developed a taste for journeys to hazardous regions.
desire
I had a strong desire to help and care for people.
bag (slang)
leaning
I always had a leaning towards sport.
bent
a bent for natural history
bias
There were fierce attacks on the BBC for alleged political bias.
cup of tea (informal)
inclination
She set out to follow her artistic inclinations.
penchant
She had a penchant for playing jokes on people.
fondness
I've always had a fondness for jewels.
predisposition
the predisposition to behave in a certain way
predilection
his predilection for expensive whisky
proclivity (formal)
Los Angeles's unique proclivity for experimental arty endeavour
partiality
a partiality for junk food
2 (noun)
Definition
a person or thing preferred
He enjoys all styles of music, but his preference is opera.
Synonyms
first choice
choice
His choice of words made Rajiv angry.
favourite
He was a favourite of the king.
election
the election of the Labour government in 1964
pick
We had the pick of winter coats from the shop.
option
He was jailed for thirty days without the option of a fine.
selection
Make your selection from the list.
top of the list
fave (informal)
3 (noun)
Candidates with the right qualifications should be given preference.
Synonyms
priority
The school gives priority to science and maths.
first place
precedence
the strict order of precedence in which the guests took their place
advantage
Men still have an economic position of advantage over women.
favouritism
Accusations of political favouritism abound.
pride of place
favoured treatment
phrase
See in preference to
Additional synonyms
in the sense of advantage
Definition
a more favourable position or state
Men still have an economic position of advantage over women.
Synonyms
lead,
control,
edge,
sway,
dominance,
superiority,
upper hand,
precedence,
primacy,
pre-eminence,
ascendancy
in the sense of bent
Definition
personal inclination or aptitude
a bent for natural history
Synonyms
inclination,
ability,
taste,
facility,
talent,
leaning,
tendency,
preference,
faculty,
forte,
flair,
knack,
penchant,
bag (slang),
propensity,
aptitude,
predisposition,
predilection,
proclivity (formal),
turn of mind
in the sense of bias
Definition
mental tendency, esp. prejudice
There were fierce attacks on the BBC for alleged political bias.
Synonyms
prejudice,
leaning,
bent,
tendency,
inclination,
penchant,
intolerance,
bigotry,
propensity,
favouritism,
predisposition,
nepotism,
unfairness,
predilection,
proclivity (formal),
partiality,
narrow-mindedness,
proneness,
one-sidedness
Synonyms of 'preference'
preference
Explore 'preference' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of choice
Definition
a person or thing chosen or that may be chosen
His choice of words made Rajiv angry.
Synonyms
selection,
preference,
election,
pick
in the sense of desire
Definition
a wish or longing
I had a strong desire to help and care for people.
Synonyms
wish,
want,
longing,
need,
hope,
urge,
yen (informal),
hunger,
appetite,
aspiration,
ache,
craving,
yearning,
inclination,
thirst,
hankering
in the sense of election
Definition
the gaining of political power or taking up of a position in an organization as a result of being voted for
the election of the Labour government in 1964
Synonyms
appointment,
choosing,
picking,
choice,
selection
in the sense of favourite
Definition
a person or thing regarded with especial preference or liking
He was a favourite of the king.
Synonyms
darling,
pet,
preference,
blue-eyed boy (informal),
pick,
choice,
dear,
beloved,
idol,
fave (informal),
teacher's pet,
the apple of your eye
in the sense of favouritism
Definition
the practice of giving special treatment to a person or group
Accusations of political favouritism abound.
Synonyms
bias,
preference,
nepotism,
preferential treatment,
partisanship,
jobs for the boys (informal),
partiality,
one-sidedness
in the sense of fondness
I've always had a fondness for jewels.
Synonyms
liking,
love,
taste,
fancy,
attraction,
weakness,
preference,
attachment,
penchant,
susceptibility,
predisposition,
soft spot,
predilection,
partiality
in the sense of inclination
Definition
a liking, tendency, or preference
She set out to follow her artistic inclinations.
Synonyms
tendency,
liking,
taste,
turn,
fancy,
leaning,
bent,
stomach,
prejudice,
bias,
affection,
thirst,
disposition,
penchant,
fondness,
propensity,
aptitude,
predisposition,
predilection,
proclivity (formal),
partiality,
turn of mind,
proneness
in the sense of leaning
Definition
a tendency or inclination
I always had a leaning towards sport.
Synonyms
tendency,
liking for,
bias,
inclination,
taste,
bent,
disposition,
penchant,
propensity,
aptitude,
predilection,
proclivity (formal),
partiality,
proneness
in the sense of option
Definition
the power or liberty to choose
He was jailed for thirty days without the option of a fine.
Synonyms
choice,
alternative,
selection,
preference,
freedom of choice,
power to choose,
election
in the sense of partiality
a partiality for junk food
Synonyms
liking,
love,
taste,
weakness,
preference,
inclination,
affinity,
penchant,
fondness,
predisposition,
predilection,
proclivity (formal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of penchant
Definition
strong inclination or liking
She had a penchant for playing jokes on people.
Synonyms
liking,
taste,
tendency,
turn,
leaning,
bent,
bias,
inclination,
affinity,
disposition,
fondness,
propensity,
predisposition,
predilection,
proclivity (formal),
partiality,
proneness
in the sense of pick
Definition
choice
We had the pick of winter coats from the shop.
Synonyms
choice,
decision,
choosing,
option,
selection,
preference
in the sense of precedence
Definition
formal order of rank or position
the strict order of precedence in which the guests took their place
Synonyms
priority,
lead,
rank,
preference,
superiority,
supremacy,
seniority,
primacy,
pre-eminence,
antecedence
in the sense of predilection
Definition
a preference or liking
his predilection for expensive whisky
Synonyms
liking,
love,
taste,
weakness,
fancy,
leaning,
tendency,
preference,
bias,
inclination,
penchant,
fondness,
propensity,
predisposition,
proclivity (formal),
partiality,
proneness
in the sense of predisposition
the predisposition to behave in a certain way
Synonyms
inclination,
tendency,
disposition,
bent,
bias,
willingness,
likelihood,
penchant,
propensity,
predilection,
proclivity (formal),
potentiality,
proneness
in the sense of proclivity
Definition
a tendency or inclination
Los Angeles's unique proclivity for experimental arty endeavour
Synonyms
tendency,
liking,
leaning,
inclination,
bent,
weakness,
bias,
disposition,
penchant,
propensity,
kink,
predisposition,
predilection,
partiality,
proneness,
liableness
in the sense of selection
Definition
a selecting or being selected
Make your selection from the list.
Synonyms
choice,
choosing,
pick,
option,
preference
in the sense of taste
Definition
a liking for something
She developed a taste for journeys to hazardous regions.
Synonyms
liking,
preference,
penchant,
fondness,
partiality,
desire,
fancy,
leaning,
bent,
appetite,
relish,
inclination,
palate,
predilection
in the sense of wish
Definition
a desire, often for something impossible or improbable