[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/preference/)

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# preference

noun (a preference, preferences; also uncountable)

«preference» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A liking for one thing more than another. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/#m1)
2. The thing you like more or choose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/#m2)
3. «Give preference to»: treat one person or group better or first. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/#m3)

### In the lessons

In maths and statistics, surveys of preferences (favourite fruit, shown in bar charts or tally charts). In everyday life, choices of food, colour and activity. Phrases: «a preference for», «in order of preference», «personal preference», «give preference to».

### Examples

- I have a preference for chocolate ice cream. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/#x1)
- List the films in order of preference. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/#x2)
- The survey showed pupils' preferences for sports. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/#x3)
- It's a matter of personal preference. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/#x4)
- Older people are given preference for seats on the bus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/#x5)
- Do you have a preference, tea or juice? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/#x6)
- Aphrodite greatly preferred Ares to her husband, and this preference naturally gave rise to much jealousy on the part of Hephaestus, and caused them great unhappiness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/#x7)

### Note

Verb «prefer» (prefer X TO Y, not «than»). Adjective «preferable». Stress: PREF-er-ence. In maths: preference surveys give counts — the most popular choice is the mode.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «preference» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preference/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«preference» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/preference.html) on Mova free.