26984 words

preference

7 definitions • 13 examples
1
the fact that you like something or someone more than another thing or person:

Examples:

Her preference is for comfortable rather than stylish clothes.
preference for I have a preference for sweet food over spicy.
personal preference Choosing furniture is largely a matter of personal preference.
sexual preference It would be wrong to discriminate against a candidate because of their sexual preference (= the sex of the people they are sexually attracted to).
2
an advantage that is given to a person or a group of people:

Examples:

preference to We give preference to those who have worked with us for a long time.
3
If you choose one thing in preference to another thing, you choose it because you like or want it more than the other thing:

Examples:

He studied chemistry in preference to physics at university.
4
A preference is also an advantage given to someone:

Examples:

[ U ] The city gives preference to job applicants who live there.
5
the fact of liking or wanting one thing more than another:

Examples:

preference for sth These investors had a preference for securities rather than bank deposits.
Buying a car is a matter of personal preference.
6
an advantage or better treatment that is given to a person or a group of people:

Examples:

give preference to sb/sth This small-business program gives preference to minority- and women-owned companies.
7
used to describe a company's shares that have the right to fixed dividends (= payments from profits) before the dividends on its ordinary shares are calculated and paid in a particular period, or in periods when dividends on these shares are not paid at all:

Examples:

Nokia is to increase its capital with about $100 million of new preference stock.

Navigation