favoritism

IPA/ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪ.tɪ.zəm/
KK[fˈevɚɪtˌɪzəm]IPA/ˈfeɪ.vər.ə.tɪ.zəm/

favoritism — noun

1. the US spelling of the British English word 'favouritism'. The meaning is the sa

1.noun
Definition

the US spelling of the British English word 'favouritism'. The meaning is the same: unfair preference shown to one person or group over others.

Example

In American English, 'favoritism' is spelled without the letter 'u'.

US vs UK spelling difference

The newspaper uses 'favoritism' because it follows US spelling rules.

Usage Note

In British English, write 'favouritism' (with '-our-'). Both spellings refer to the same concept.

Common Mistakes

The teacher was accused of favouritism' (in a US paper).
The teacher was accused of favoritism' (in a US paper).
Use the '-or-' spelling for American English contexts; use '-our-' for British English contexts.

2. when someone in authority treats a particular person or group more favourably th

2.nounB2
Definition

when someone in authority treats a particular person or group more favourably than others, not because of ability or merit, but because of personal liking or connection — for example, a manager who always promotes a friend instead of more qualified workers.

Example

The coach faced accusations of favoritism after picking his son over stronger players.

accused of + favoritism (common verb collocation)

Aisha complained that the office promotions were based on favoritism rather than hard work.

based on + favoritism

Common collocations
  • show favoritism
  • accuse of favoritism
  • claims of favoritism
  • favoritism towards
  • favoritism in the workplace
  • blatant favoritism
  • accusations of favoritism
Synonyms
  • bias

    broader term — bias can be unconscious or systemic; favoritism involves intentional, personal preference

  • nepotism

    narrower term — specifically favouring family members in professional settings

  • partiality

    more formal; less common in everyday speech than 'favoritism'

Antonyms
  • fairness

    the principle of equal treatment that favoritism violates

  • impartiality

    the quality of not favouring any side; often used in formal/legal contexts

Usage Note

Always describes a negative situation; the speaker disapproves of the unequal treatment. Frequently used in accusations, complaints, or criticisms of institutions (schools, workplaces, governments).

Common Mistakes

The teacher shows favoritism to help the weak students.
The teacher shows favoritism by always calling on her favourite students.
Favoritism is always about unfair, not helpful, preference.
She has a favoritism for chocolate.
She has a preference for chocolate.
Favoritism applies to how people treat others, not personal likes or dislikes of things.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All three words describe unfair treatment, but they differ in scope and context. 'Bias' is the broadest — it can refer to unconscious prejudice or a statistical tendency, not just deliberate favouring ('the study found a gender bias in hiring'). 'Nepotism' is the narrowest: favouritism specifically toward family members in a professional context ('the company was run on nepotism, with cousins in every department'). 'Partiality' is more formal and often appears in legal or philosophical writing about fairness ('a judge must avoid any appearance of partiality'). 'Favoritism' sits between them — it covers any personal preference that overrides merit, whether the recipient is a relative, a friend, or simply someone the authority figure likes.

bias ↗nepotism ↗partiality ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • show favoritism
  • accuse of favoritism
  • claims of favoritism
  • accusations of favoritism
  • charges of favoritism

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from the noun 'favor' (from Latin 'favor', meaning 'goodwill, kindness'), combined with the suffix '-ite' (indicating a person who is preferred or beloved) and further with '-ism' (forming a noun for a practice or system). The word entered English in the 18th century through French 'favoritisme'. The concept — giving preferred treatment based on personal relationships rather than merit — has remained stable across centuries.