What does favourable mean?
Favourable is an adjective describing conditions, judgments, or outcomes that are advantageous, promising, or marked by approval. It has two main senses: it can describe circumstances that work in someone's favour — as in favourable weather, favourable exchange rates, or favourable terms of a contract — or it can express a positive evaluation, as in a favourable review or a favourable first impression. The word carries a distinctly positive connotation and appears most often in formal and professional contexts: finance, diplomacy, journalism, and everyday discussion of plans whose prospects look good. Its natural opposite is unfavourable or adverse. Favourable derives from Latin roots relating to goodwill and fortune, reflecting an older sense of being looked upon kindly by fate or by a powerful person. In American English the same word is spelled favorable, one of many -our/-or divides between British and US conventions.
adjectiveGiving or showing approval, advantage, or a good chance of success; expressing support or positive circumstances.
- Providing advantages or good conditions; conducive to success (e.g. favourable weather, favourable terms).
- Expressing approval or a positive assessment (e.g. a favourable review, a favourable response).
"The company reported favourable results for the third quarter."
"We finally enjoyed favourable winds for the crossing."
"The proposal received a favourable response from the committee."
The word 'favour' hides an old idea: that good fortune was once literally a gift bestowed — and to be 'in favour' meant standing in someone's grace.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of favourable
Favourable comes from Old French 'favorable', itself derived from Latin 'favorabilis', based on 'favor', meaning goodwill or partiality. In Roman usage, favor originally suggested the kindly regard of gods or patrons, linking the word to ideas of fortune and grace. The word entered English in the late Middle Ages and settled into its modern sense of advantageous or approving. Cognates include French 'favorable', Spanish 'favorable', and Italian 'favorevole', all from the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How favourable is actually used
Chiefly used in formal, professional, and journalistic contexts such as business reports, reviews, and negotiations. The spelling is the standard British form; in American English the equivalent is 'favorable'. It carries a clearly positive connotation and is often contrasted directly with 'unfavourable' or 'adverse'.
Easily confused with favourable
Favourable means advantageous or approving, while favourite means preferred above all others.