Added 9 October 2026
preference
/ˈpɹɛf(ə)ɹ(ə)ns/ noun
Latin root: preferentia Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about preference at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
The selection of one thing or person over others (with the main adposition being "for" in relation to the thing or person, but possibly also "of")
He has a preference for crisp wines.
-
The option to so select, and the one selected.
Can I keep my preferences when I upgrade to the new version of this application?
- The state of being preferred over others.
verb
- To give preferential treatment to; to give a preference to.
noun
Origin
From Middle French preference, from Medieval Latin preferentia. Doublet of preferans. Morphologically prefer + -ence. Compare typologically Russian предвзя́тость (predvzjátostʹ) (<< взять (vzjatʹ), a suppletive of брать (bratʹ), which is cognate with Latin ferō).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)