favourite
A1Neutral to informal. Common in everyday speech, less formal than 'preferred'.
Definition
Meaning
Preferred above all others; liked or valued most.
A person or thing that is regarded with special favour or preference; a competitor or contestant considered most likely to win.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions as both an adjective and a noun. The noun sense often implies a status granted by others (e.g., 'the teacher's favourite').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'favourite' (UK) vs. 'favorite' (US). Usage is identical in meaning and function.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] favourite [noun] (It's my favourite film)[be] a favourite of [person] (He's a favourite of the critics)[be] favourite to [verb] (She's favourite to win)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “favourite son”
- “teacher's pet (similar connotation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'Our favourite supplier.' Not typically used in formal reports.
Academic
Rare in formal writing; 'preferred' or 'most highly regarded' is used.
Everyday
Extremely common for expressing personal preferences.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager seems to favour that player.
- I favour the first option.
American English
- The manager seems to favor that player.
- I favor the first option.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. 'Favourite' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable. 'Favorite' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- What's your favourite childhood memory?
- The blue dress is my favourite.
American English
- What's your favorite childhood memory?
- The blue dress is my favorite.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My favourite colour is green.
- Pizza is my favourite food.
- This café is a favourite of local artists.
- Who is the favourite to win the championship?
- Despite being the bookmakers' favourite, the team suffered a surprising defeat.
- The director's favourite motif is the use of shadows.
- The novel quickly became a perennial favourite among critics, despite its initial commercial failure.
- He was accused of showing favouritism towards his favourite protégé.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'FAVOUR' + 'ITE' – the one I favour most.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAVOURITE IS A POSITION (e.g., 'top of the list', 'hold a special place').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'любимый' for objects; 'favourite' is more about preference than deep love. For people, 'favourite' can sound childish or imply favouritism (e.g., 'мамин любимчик').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'the most favourite' (redundant, as 'favourite' is already superlative).
- Confusing spelling between UK/US variants.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'favourite' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is redundant. 'Favourite' already means 'most liked', so 'most favourite' is incorrect. Use 'favourite' alone.
The spelling: 'favourite' (UK) and 'favorite' (US). Pronunciation and meaning are identical.
No. The related verb is 'to favour' (UK) / 'to favor' (US). 'Favourite' is only an adjective or a noun.
It is neutral but leans slightly informal. In very formal writing, alternatives like 'preferred', 'most esteemed', or 'of choice' might be more appropriate.