What does favorite mean?
A favorite is a person or thing preferred above all others, whether a cherished book, a beloved child, or the team everyone expects to win. The word works both as a noun — "she is my favorite" — and as an adjective — "my favorite song" — making it one of the most versatile everyday words in English. It derives from the Latin "favere," meaning to show kindness or goodwill, and entered English via French and Italian in the sixteenth century, when it described courtiers who enjoyed a ruler's special patronage. That history lingers in its connotations: while calling something your favorite expresses warm personal affection, describing someone as a powerful figure's favorite can suggest privilege unfairly granted. In sports and betting, the favorite is the contestant likeliest to win, opposite the underdog. British English spells the word "favourite," but pronunciation and usage are otherwise identical across the English-speaking world.
A person or thing preferred above all others, or a competitor regarded as most likely to win.
"The dark horse upset the favorite in the final stretch."
In betting contexts, "the favorite" contrasts with "the underdog."
Regarded with special preference or liking above all others of its kind.
"His favorite chair sat untouched by the window, waiting for him."
The plural "favorites" refers collectively to multiple preferred people or things, such as a list of favorite books.
"Her favorites among the paintings were the impressionist landscapes."
"Favorite" began life in the 16th century as a political label for courtiers who won a monarch's ear — being someone's favorite was once a route to power, and often to enemies.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of favorite
"Favorite" comes from the Latin verb "favere," meaning to be favorable or show kindness, through the Late Latin "favor" and then into Italian as "favorito" and French as "favori," before entering English in the mid-sixteenth century. Its earliest English uses referred to a person — especially a courtier — who enjoyed the special patronage of a sovereign. The related words "favor," "favorable," and "disfavor" descend from the same Latin root, and "favoritism" is a later English derivative of "favorite" itself. The British spelling "favourite" reflects the same French origin.
Related word forms
How favorite is actually used
"Favorite" functions as both a noun and an adjective, and it is fully standard in both formal and informal contexts. The British spelling is "favourite." Calling someone a "favorite" can carry a faintly negative connotation when it implies unfair partiality, as in accusations of favoritism.
Easily confused with favorite
"Favorite" is the noun or adjective naming the thing most liked, while "favored" describes something that has been given an advantage or special treatment.