Etymologically
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preference

Etymology and origin of the English word preference

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
mid-15th century
Borrowed from
French préférence
Ultimate origin
Latin (praefero)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈpɹɛf(ə)ɹ(ə)ns/, /ˈpɹɛf(ə)ɹɛns/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French préférence,[2][3] from Medieval Latin praeferentia,[2][3][4] from praeferens, present participle of praeferre (“to place before, carry in front”) (see prefer).[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Advancement in position or status, promotion: the mid-15th century, as preferraunce;[2][4] this sense is now rare.[5]

Semantic evolution

The act of preferring, or of being preferred, is from 1656 (the 1650s),[5][2] and the quality of being preferable, precedence, an obsolete sense of 1603.[5] A prior claim, especially priority of payment of a debt, is from 1665.[5] That which one prefers, the object of choice, is from 1852 in Etymonline and 1864 in the OED.[2][5] A preference share is from 1890,[5] and in preferential voting, an order of choice among candidates from 1908.[5] In commerce, favour given to imports from particular countries is a further sense.[6]

Timeline

  • mid-15th century – advancement.[2]
  • 1656 – the act of preferring.[5]
  • 1665 – priority of payment.[5]
  • 1852 – the thing preferred.[2]
  • 1890 – preference share.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The act of preferring one thing over another, or the right to choose.
  2. Someone or something preferred.
  3. (law) Priority of payment given to certain creditors.
  4. (commerce) Favour given to particular foreign countries in trade, as by lower tariffs.

Word family

  • nonpreference
  • preference share
  • preference stock

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Preference.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/preference. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·