preference definition | Dictionary.com

pref⋅er⋅ence

[pref-er-uh

ns, pref-ruh

ns]

Use preference in a Sentence

–noun

1.	the act of preferring.

2.	the state of being preferred.

3.	that which is preferred; choice: His preference is vanilla, not chocolate.

4.	a practical advantage given to one over others.

5.	a prior right or claim, as to payment of dividends or to assets upon dissolution.

6.	the favoring of one country or group of countries by granting special advantages over others in international trade.

Origin:
1595–1605; < ML praeferentia. See prefer, -ence

Synonyms:
3. selection, pick. See choice.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To preference

pref·er·ence (prěf'ər-əns, prěf'rəns)

1. The selecting of someone or something over another or others.
2. The right or chance to so choose.
3. Someone or something so chosen. See Synonyms at choice.
4. A priority of payment given to one or more creditors by an insolvent debtor.
5. The right of a creditor to priority of payment.
The state of being preferred.
Law
1. A priority of payment given to one or more creditors by an insolvent debtor.
2. The right of a creditor to priority of payment.
The granting of precedence or advantage to one country or group of countries in levying duties or in other matters of international trade.

[Middle English preferraunce, preferment, from Old French preference, from preferer, to prefer; see prefer.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Preference

Pref"er*ence\, n. [Cf. F. pr['e]f['e]rence.]

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?

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : preference

Spanish: preferencia,

German: die Vorliebe,

Japanese:

More Translations »

preference

The practice of matching customers' buy and sell orders away from the primary exchange. Preferencing is opposed by the New York Stock Exchange because it claims the practice unfairly benefits brokerage firms and doesn't give customer orders the chance to see other customer orders in a public market. Compare in-house trade.

Main Entry: pref·er·ence
Pronunciation: 'pre-fr&ns, -f&-r&ns
Function: noun
1 : the right to prior payment of a debt preference over the creditors of the heirs or legatees —Louisiana Civil Code>
2 : the transfer of an insolvent debtor's interest in property to a creditor for an earlier debt that gives the creditor more than the creditor would otherwise receive (as under a bankruptcy settlement) called also voidable preference —compare antecedent debt at DEBT, FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCE general assignment at ASSIGNMENT
NOTE: Preferences can be voided by a bankruptcy trustee because they diminish the bankruptcy estate out of which other creditors will be paid. Preferences must be made during a period (as 90 days before the date of filing a bankruptcy petition) established by bankruptcy law in order to be voidable. Perfection or grant of a security interest during this period is also a preference. The bankruptcy law states exceptions under which payments to creditors are not voidable preferences.
3 : PRIORITY

Search another word or see preference on Thesaurus | Reference

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us