favoritism
C1Formal, often critical
Definition
Meaning
The unfair practice of consistently favoring one person or group over others, especially in work, education, or politics.
A bias, partiality, or prejudice in treatment based on personal preferences or relationships rather than merit or rules.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost always has a negative connotation of unfairness and is frequently used in contexts of governance, management, or social groups.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English uses 'favouritism'. Both spellings are pronounced the same.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American formal and journalistic contexts; British English may use 'nepotism' more specifically for family bias.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
favoritism towards + [person/group]favoritism in + [area/process]accuse + [person/body] + of favoritismVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not what you know, but who you know (conceptually related)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Complaints about managerial favoritism can damage team morale and productivity.
Academic
The study examined institutional favoritism in grant allocation processes.
Everyday
The children accused their parents of showing favoritism towards the youngest sibling.
Technical
The algorithm was designed to eliminate any potential favoritism in candidate selection.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager was accused of favouring his former colleagues.
- The teacher favouritises students who participate more.
American English
- The coach was suspected of favoring players from his alma mater.
- The system seems to favoritize applicants with certain backgrounds.
adverb
British English
- He was treated favourably compared to his peers.
- Resources were allocated favouringly.
American English
- She was treated favorably compared to her peers.
- Resources were allocated favoringly.
adjective
British English
- He was in a favoured position within the company.
- A favouritist approach to management.
American English
- She was in a favored position due to her connections.
- A favoritist policy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher tries not to show favoritism.
- My mum says she has no favoritism between me and my sister.
- There were complaints of favoritism in the selection of the team captain.
- To avoid favoritism, the manager used a points system to decide promotions.
- The investigation found clear evidence of political favoritism in the awarding of the contracts.
- Allegations of favoritism undermined the credibility of the recruitment panel.
- The pervasive culture of favoritism within the institution stifled innovation and demotivated talented staff.
- Her thesis deconstructed the systemic favoritism inherent in the traditional patronage networks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FAVORITISM = Showing FAVOR to a person you lIke besT, In a way that's Mean to others.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAIRNESS IS BALANCE / UNFAIRNESS IS WEIGHTED SCALES.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'фаворит' (a favorite, which is neutral). 'Favoritism' is exclusively negative and abstract.
- Not equivalent to 'протекционизм' (protectionism in economics).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a favoritism'). It is uncountable.
- Confusing it with 'favorite' (adjective/noun).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'favoritism' in a formal, negative context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern usage it almost exclusively carries a negative connotation of unfairness and bias. A positive or neutral preference would be described as a 'preference' or 'favor'.
Nepotism is a specific type of favoritism granted to relatives or family members. Favoritism is the broader, general term for unfair preference based on any personal relationship or bias.
No, 'favoritism' is an uncountable (mass) noun. You cannot say 'a favoritism' or 'favoritisms'. You can have 'an instance of favoritism' or 'evidence of favoritism'.
Only in writing. British English spells it 'favouritism', American English uses 'favoritism'. Pronunciation and meaning are identical.
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