favourite
FAYV-riht
Also spelled favorite (US spelling)
Favourite (adj) means Liked more than any other of its kind. Example: “Pizza is my favourite food.”
adj
1
Liked more than any other of its kind.
"Pizza is my favourite food."
"What's your favourite film of the year?"
"Blue has always been my favourite colour, so I painted my room that shade."
noun
1
The person or thing someone likes best.
"This song has always been a favourite of mine."
"She was clearly the teacher's favourite."
"Of all the cafes in town, this one is my favourite."
2
The competitor or contestant most expected to win.
"The champion goes into the final as the clear favourite."
"The young horse started the race as the favourite and won easily."
"Few people thought the home side were favourites to win the cup."
How to use favourite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe one you like best, or the one tipped to win.
UK vs US
American English spells this "favorite".
Easily confused with
Common pairings
favourite colour
clear favourite
firm favourite
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Word forms
- Plural
- favourites
- Third person singular
- favourites
- Past tense
- favourited
- Comparative
- more favourite
- Superlative
- most favourite, favouritemost, favouritest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Pizza is my _____ food.
Etymology
From 16th-century French favorit, ultimately from Latin favor ("goodwill") — tracing back to the verb faveo, "to favour, support."
Class of 1500
favourite joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for favourite
See all rhymes for favourite →Frequently asked questions
What does “favourite” mean?
The word “favourite” means liked more than any other of its kind. In plain terms, the one you like best, or the one tipped to win.
How do you pronounce “favourite”?
“Favourite” is pronounced FAYV-riht (/ˈfeɪv.ɹɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “favourite” in a sentence?
Here is “favourite” used in a sentence: “Pizza is my favourite food.”
What part of speech is “favourite”?
Depending on how it is used, “favourite” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “favourite” come from?
The word “favourite” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Latin. From 16th-century French favorit, ultimately from Latin favor ("goodwill") — tracing back to the verb faveo, "to favour, support.".
Is “favourite” a common word?
“Favourite” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “favourite” have?
“Favourite” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: liked more than any other of its kind.
What is the difference between "favourite" and "favorite"?
There is no difference in meaning — only spelling. "Favourite" is the standard British and Commonwealth form, while "favorite" is the American spelling. Both describe the one liked more than any other. Which you use simply depends on whether you follow British or American conventions.
What is the opposite of favourite?
The natural opposite is "least favourite" — the one liked least rather than most. Words like "unpopular," "disliked," or "worst" also work depending on context. Because favourite marks the single top choice, its opposite points to the bottom of the same ranking.
Can there be more than one favourite?
Strictly, a favourite is the single one liked above all others, so logically there is just one. In everyday use, though, people happily speak of "some of my favourites" or "a favourite of mine," loosening the word to mean simply among the best-liked.
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