What does disfavouring mean?
Disfavouring means showing a lack of favour toward a person, option, or proposal. In British English it most often appears as the present participle of “disfavour,” while American English uses “disfavoring.” The word can describe a deliberate choice to place another candidate or plan at a disadvantage, as in “the panel was accused of disfavouring smaller applicants,” but it may also express a general negative attitude rather than formal hostility. Because “disfavour” is formal and somewhat literary in British usage, “disfavouring” often sounds institutional, judicial, or historical. It is more pointed than simply “not favouring,” since it implies disapproval or active preference against something. The term is useful when discussing bias, unequal treatment, or the deliberate weighting of a decision. Its spelling and longer form preserve the older sense of “favour” as a preference shown to one person over another.
verb (present participle)To regard or treat someone or something with disfavour; to show a preference against them.
- To regard or treat a person, option, or proposal with disfavour, especially by deliberately placing it at a disadvantage.
"Several residents objected to the council disfavouring applicants from smaller colleges."
"The committee was accused of disfavouring candidates from smaller institutions."
"Several board members continued disfavouring the proposal despite the committee’s revised recommendations."
Turn “favour” upside down and you get the sharp idea behind disfavouring: not neutrality, but a preference against.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does disfavouring come from?
Disfavouring is formed from the present participle of disfavour. Medieval English borrowed disfavour from an Old French negative formation based on favour; favour itself continues French favor and Latin favor. Latin favor in turn comes from favēre, “to be well disposed or support,” while the prefix dis- reverses the favourable sense.
Related word forms
How disfavouring is actually used
Chiefly British in this spelling; American English normally uses “disfavoring.” The verb is formal or literary and suggests active preference against something or advantageous treatment of it, without necessarily implying open hostility.
Easily confused with disfavouring
Disfavoring is the usual American spelling of the British verb disfavouring; both forms have the same meaning.