PREFERENCE

preference

(noun) grant of favor or advantage to one over another (especially to a country or countries in matters of international trade, such as levying duties)

preference, druthers

(noun) the right or chance to choose; “given my druthers, I’d eat cake”

predilection, preference, orientation

(noun) a predisposition in favor of something; “a predilection for expensive cars”; “his sexual preferences”; “showed a Marxist orientation”

preference, penchant, predilection, taste

(noun) a strong liking; “my own preference is for good literature”; “the Irish have a penchant for blarney”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

preference (countable and uncountable, plural preferences)

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")

The option to so select, and the one selected.

The state of being preferred over others.

A strong liking or personal valuation.

A preferential bias; partiality; discrimination.

Synonyms

• forechoice

• (preferential bias): see predilection

Verb

preference (third-person singular simple present preferences, present participle preferencing, simple past and past participle preferenced)

(US) To give preferential treatment to; to give a preference to.

Etymology 2

Noun

preference (uncountable)

Preferans, a card game, principally played in Eastern Europe.

Source: Wiktionary

Pref"er*ence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. préférence.]

1. 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. Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry. Dryden. Knowledge of things alone gives a value to our reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge over another's. Locke.

2. That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition