grace-and-favour: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, historical, institutional, British
Quick answer
What does “grace-and-favour” mean?
Property, typically a house, owned by a monarch or government and provided rent-free to a person as a privilege or reward.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Property, typically a house, owned by a monarch or government and provided rent-free to a person as a privilege or reward.
A special privilege granted to someone as a favour, often implying a sense of dependency or gratitude towards the benefactor. More broadly, any benefit given not by right but by discretion and goodwill.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily British and Commonwealth; the concept is rare in the U.S. where similar arrangements might be termed 'government-owned housing', 'rent-free quarters', or simply described as a 'perk' or 'privilege'.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries historical and aristocratic weight, often associated with royalty. In general use, it can imply an outdated system of patronage. In the US, if used, it would sound archaic and distinctly British.
Frequency
High frequency in UK historical/political contexts; very low to zero in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “grace-and-favour” in a Sentence
[live/reside/be housed] in a grace-and-favour [residence/house/apartment][grant/offer/withdraw] grace-and-favour accommodation [to someone]a grace-and-favour [residence] [in London/at Hampton Court]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grace-and-favour” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The retired admiral was offered a grace-and-favour apartment in Greenwich.
- The scandal involved the misuse of a government grace-and-favour residence.
American English
- The concept of a grace-and-favour home is alien to most Americans, who see property ownership as a key right.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could describe non-monetary executive compensation (e.g., 'a grace-and-favour company flat').
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and sociological texts discussing patronage, monarchy, or class systems.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used in news articles about the Royal Family or political scandals.
Technical
Used in UK constitutional/royal household management contexts to describe specific property arrangements.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grace-and-favour”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grace-and-favour”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grace-and-favour”
- Using 'grace-and-favor' (US spelling) for the institutional British term.
- Hyphenating inconsistently (e.g., 'grace and favour').
- Assuming it applies to any free accommodation, rather than specifically from a sovereign or state.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is standard to hyphenate the term when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., grace-and-favour residence). It may sometimes be seen without hyphens in looser descriptions.
Yes, but it retains its formal/institutional flavour. It can describe any similar arrangement where a powerful entity (e.g., a government, university, or corporation) provides property as a discretionary perk.
'Grace-and-favour' is a specific type of benefit in kind (housing) with historical and aristocratic connotations, emphasizing its origin in patronage. A 'perk' is more general and modern.
Typically, very few. Occupancy is usually at the pleasure of the grantor and can be revoked, unlike a tenancy or leasehold which offers legal protection.
Property, typically a house, owned by a monarch or government and provided rent-free to a person as a privilege or reward.
Grace-and-favour is usually formal, historical, institutional, british in register.
Grace-and-favour: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪs ən ˈfeɪvə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪs ən ˈfeɪvər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “living on someone's grace and favour (figurative, implying dependence on another's goodwill)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a king showing **grace** (kindness) and **favour** (preferential treatment) by letting a loyal knight live in a castle house for free.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROPERTY IS A GIFT (implying the relationship between giver and receiver is personal and hierarchical, not transactional).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of living in a 'grace-and-favour' residence?