preference

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pref=er=ence

CIDE DICTIONARY

preference, n. [Cf. F. préférence.].

•  The act of Preferring, or the state of being preferred; the setting of one thing before another; precedence; higher estimation; predilection; choice; also, the power or opportunity of choosing; as, to give him his preference.  [1913 Webster]

  "Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry."  [1913 Webster]

  "Knowledge of things alone gives a value to our reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge over another's."  [1913 Webster]
•  That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference?  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

preference, n.
1 the act or an instance of preferring or being preferred.
2 a thing preferred.
3 a the favouring of one person etc. before others. b Commerce the favouring of one country by admitting its products at a lower import duty.
4 Law a prior right, esp. to the payment of debts.

Idiom

in preference to as a thing preferred over (another). preference shares (or stock) Brit. shares or stock whose entitlement to dividend takes priority over that of ordinary shares.

Etymology

F pr{eacute}f{eacute}rence f. med.L praeferentia (as PREFER)

DEVIL DICTIONARY

preference

n. A sentiment, or frame of mind, induced by the erroneous belief that one thing is better than another.
An ancient philosopher, expounding his conviction that life is no better than death, was asked by a disciple why, then, he did not die. "Because," he replied, "death is no better than life."
It is longer.

THESAURUS

preference

affinity, alternative, alternativity, animus, antecedence, antecedency, anteposition, anteriority, aptitude, bag, bent, bias, cast, character, choice, choosing, chosen kind, co-optation, co-option, constitution, cosset, cup of tea, darling, decision, desire, diathesis, discrimination, disposition, dominion, druthers, eccentricity, election, elevation, fancy, fascination, favor, favorite, favoritism, first choice, fondling, free choice, free will, front position, grain, idiosyncrasy, idol, inclination, individualism, inequality, interest, involvement, jewel, kidney, leaning, liking, make, makeup, matinee idol, mental set, mettle, mind, mind-set, minion, mold, mutual affinity, mutual attraction, nature, nepotism, one-sidedness, option, parti pris, partiality, particular choice, partisanism, partisanship, penchant, personal choice, pet, pick, precedence, precedency, preceding, precession, precursor, predilection, predisposition, preferential treatment, preferment, prefixation, prejudice, prelude, preoption, prepossession, priority, proclivity, promotion, propensity, prothesis, selection, set, slant, spoiled child, stamp, strain, streak, stripe, style, superiority, sympathy, taste, temper, temperament, tendency, the lead, the pick, thing, top priority, turn, turn of mind, twist, type, undetachment, undispassionateness, unneutrality, upgrading, urgency, volition, warp, will

ROGET THESAURUS

preference

Choice

N choice, option, discretion, preoption, alternative, dilemma, embarras de choix, adoption, cooptation, novation, decision, election, political election (politics), selection, excerption, gleaning, eclecticism, excerpta, gleanings, cuttings, scissors and paste, pick, preference, prelation, opinion poll, survey, predilection, optional, discretional, eclectic, choosing, preferential, chosen, choice, optionally, at pleasure, either the one or the other, or at the option of, whether or not, once and for all, for one's money, by choice, by preference, in preference, rather, before.

Precedence

N precedence, coming before, the lead, le pas, superiority, importance, antecedence, antecedency, anteriority, precursor, priority, precession, anteposition, epacme, preference, preceding, precedent, antecedent, anterior, prior, before, former, foregoing, beforementioned, abovementioned, aforementioned, aforesaid, said, precursory, precursive, prevenient, preliminary, prefatory, introductory, prelusive, prelusory, proemial, preparatory, before, in advance, seniores priores, prior tempore prior jure.