favorite

1 of 2

noun

fa·​vor·​ite ˈfā-v(ə-)rət 

ˈfā-vərt,

 chiefly dialectal  ˈfā-və-ˌrīt

1

: one that is treated or regarded with special favor or liking

That song is my favorite.

especially : a person who is specially loved, trusted, or provided with favors by someone of high rank or authority

The king granted the land to two of his favorites.

2

: a competitor judged most likely to win

Which horse is the favorite in this race?

favorite

2 of 2

adjective

: constituting a favorite

his favorite daughter

especially : markedly popular

the country's favorite sport

Synonyms

Noun

• darling
• fave
• minion
• pet
• preference
• speed

Adjective

• beloved
• cherished
• darling
• dear
• fair-haired
• favored
• fond
• loved
• pet
• precious
• special
• sweet
• white-headed

Examples of favorite in a Sentence

Noun

Of all his books, do you have a favorite?

That movie is my favorite.

That movie is a great favorite with audiences everywhere.

Adjective

that teacher claims not to have any favorite students, although many in the class would disagree

mint chocolate chip is my favorite flavor of ice cream

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Hunter entered the week as the odds-on favorite to win the award, with -4000 odds over the other finalists, such as Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, and Miami's Cam Ward. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2024

Complete with a fantastic soundtrack and a unique and haunting animation style, The Nightmare Before Christmas has been a fan favorite for decades. —Keith Langston, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Here are a few of my favorite rums that have hit store shelves in the last few months, all of which are worth your time. —Tony Sachs, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. —Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Italian favorito, past participle of favorire to favor, from favore favor, from Latin favor

First Known Use

Noun

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1692, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing favorite

• co-favorite
• favorite son

Kids Definition

favorite

1 of 2 noun

fa·​vor·​ite ˈfāv-(ə-)rət 

1

: a person or a thing that is preferred more than others

2

: the contestant considered as having the best chance to win

favorite

2 of 2 adjective

: being a favorite

our favorite show