What does disfavour mean?
Disfavour is a noun meaning a state of disapproval, dislike, or loss of goodwill, and can also function as a verb meaning to view something with disapproval. It is most commonly encountered in formal or political writing, where individuals or policies are said to have fallen into or out of disfavour — for example, when a government official loses the confidence of colleagues after a controversy. The word carries a distinctly formal register and appears more frequently in British English than American English, where the spelling "disfavor" predominates. Its etymology traces back through Old French "desfavor" to the Latin "favor", which derives from "favere", meaning "to look at kindly" — so disfavour literally denotes an absence of kind regard. Related terms include "favourable", "favorite", and "endeavour", all sharing this ancient root concerned with warmth of attention. Though not especially common in casual conversation, disfavour remains useful for describing shifts in institutional or personal esteem.
A state of disapproval or dislike; loss of someone's favour or goodwill.
"He fell into the king's disfavour and was banished from court."
A condition of being out of favour or no longer held in esteem.
"The policy has since fallen into disfavour among economists."
To regard with disapproval; to show a lack of support for something.
"Many voters disfavoured the proposed tax increase."
Less common than the noun form.
Rarely used in the plural; the word almost always appears in the singular.
"He endured the disfavours of his superiors with quiet dignity."
When you 'fall from grace', you're really just falling into disfavour — a word whose Latin root literally meant 'to look at kindly'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of disfavour
Disfavour entered English in the early modern period via Old French "desfavor", combining the negative prefix "des-" with "favor", itself from the Latin "favor", derived from "favere" meaning "to look at kindly" or "to be well disposed toward." The word thus literally conveys an absence of kind regard or goodwill. It shares this Latin root with cognates such as "favourite", "favourable", and "endeavour", all of which preserve some sense of warm attention or positive disposition.
How disfavour is actually used
More common in British English, where it is typically spelled "disfavour" rather than "disfavor" (the US spelling). The word carries a formal or literary register and often appears in political or institutional contexts, particularly in phrases like "fall into disfavour". It is less common in everyday speech than its American counterpart.
Easily confused with disfavour
"Disfavor" is simply the American spelling of the same word, while "disfavour" is the British spelling — they mean exactly the same thing.