favorite

[ fey-ver-it, feyv-rit ]

noun

1. a person or thing regarded with special favor or preference:

   That song is an old favorite of mine.

2. Sports. a competitor considered likely to win.
3. a person or thing popular with the public.
4. a person treated with special or undue favor by a king, official, etc.:

   favorites at the court.

5. Digital Technology. bookmark ( def 3a ).

adjective

1. regarded with particular favor or preference:

   a favorite child.

Other Words From

• non·favor·ite noun
• pre·favor·ite noun adjective
• un·favor·ite adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of favorite¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Middle French, from Italian favorito, “favored,” past participle of favorire “to favor, support,” from favore “favor, goodwill”; favor, -ite ²

Example Sentences

Foxx went into the evening the heavy favorite to win for his performance as Ray Charles in “Ray.”

From Los Angeles Times

Separate from the poll’s questions about Harris, California voters were asked to choose their first and second favorites from a long list of candidates who have entered the governor’s race and potential candidates.

From Los Angeles Times

But time and space restrictions insist that I move straight to “Someone in a Tree,” which Sondheim has cited as his favorite of his musical theater songs.

From Los Angeles Times

What are your favorite songs of each other’s?

From Los Angeles Times

It was wild; there were crazy prints — plaids, leopard spots — in my favorite colors.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beloved
• cherished
• favored
• main
• popular
• prized
• treasured

How Do You Spell Favorite?

Spelling tips for favorite

The word favorite is hard to spell for two reasons. First, in British English it is spelled with a u (favourite), unlike the American English spelling favorite. Second, the final e is silent.

How to spell favorite:  When you do someone a favor, you don’t do it for yourself. So, there is no u in favor. Now that we have the beginning of the word down, how do we remember the e in -ite? Well, it wouldn’t be anything without an Ending (an e at the end). Put the two together and you get favorite.