favouritism
B2Formal, Academic, Business
Definition
Meaning
The unfair practice of giving preferential treatment to one person or group over others, typically due to personal liking or bias.
The act or state of showing a consistent and unjustified preference for one option, person, or group, often leading to inequity and resentment. Can also refer to a pattern of bias in selection, promotion, or resource allocation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly negative connotation; implies a breach of fairness, impartiality, or meritocracy. Often used in contexts of institutional or organisational bias.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British spelling: 'favouritism'. American spelling: 'favoritism'.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations in both varieties. The concept is universally recognised as unethical.
Frequency
Equal frequency in relevant formal/descriptive contexts (politics, HR, education). The American spelling is, of course, more common globally due to media influence.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
favouritism towards [person/group]favouritism in [selection/promotion/allocation]favouritism by [authority figure]favouritism among [group]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not what you know, it's who you know. (related concept)”
- “The teacher's pet (a manifestation of favouritism)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Criticised in HR for promotions and project assignments; seen as damaging to morale and meritocracy.
Academic
Studied in sociology, political science, and ethics as a form of social inequality and corruption.
Everyday
Used to complain about unfair treatment in families, schools, or social groups.
Technical
In legal contexts, may be part of claims of discrimination or unfair administrative action.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager was accused of favouring his former colleagues.
- The system seems to favour those from privileged backgrounds.
American English
- The coach was fired for favoring his son over more talented players.
- The tax code favors large corporations.
adverb
British English
- The rules were not applied favourably to all parties.
- The deal was viewed favourably by investors.
American English
- The proposal was received favorably by the committee.
- The judge looked favorably on her plea.
adjective
British English
- He was the favourite candidate for the promotion.
- What's your favourite film?
American English
- She was the favorite to win the election.
- Pizza is my favorite food.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children thought there was favouritism because the teacher always called on the same student.
- Many employees left the company due to the manager's obvious favouritism towards his friends.
- The independent report found clear evidence of political favouritism in the allocation of government contracts.
- Despite stringent anti-corruption policies, endemic favouritism and nepotism continued to undermine the institution's legitimacy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FAVOURite teacher giving unFAIR ITEMS only to their favourite students: FAVOUR-IT-ISM.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAIRNESS IS BALANCE / IMPARTIALITY IS BLINDNESS; favouritism is thus 'tilting the scales' or 'peeking from under the blindfold'.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как 'фаворитизм' в смысле 'увлечение, хобби' (это 'hobby').
- В русском 'фаворитизм' – книжное, полит. слово; английское 'favouritism' шире (семья, школа).
- Не путать с 'протекционизм' (protectionism – экономический терйн).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'favoritism' in UK context, 'favouritism' in US context.
- Using it for a harmless 'preference' (e.g., 'I have a favouritism for chocolate ice cream') – incorrect; use 'preference' or 'fondness'.
- Confusing with 'favour' (одолжение).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'favouritism' LEAST likely be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern usage it is exclusively negative. It describes unfair bias. A harmless personal 'preference' is not called favouritism.
Nepotism is a specific type of favouritism granted to relatives. Favouritism can be based on friendship, background, or any personal bias, not just family ties.
No. The related verb is 'to favour' (UK) / 'to favor' (US). 'Favouritism' is only a noun.
It is common in formal discussions about fairness (work, politics, education). In casual settings, people might simply say 'It's not fair' or 'He's biased' instead.