[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

preference \pref"erence\, n. cf. f. pr'ef'erence.
   1. the act of preferring, or the state of being preferred;
      the setting of one thing before another; precedence;
      higher estimation; predilection; choice; also, the power
      or opportunity of choosing; as, to give him his
      preference.
      1913 webster

            leave the critics on either side to contend about
            the preference due to this or that sort of poetry.
                                                  --dryden.
      1913 webster

            knowledge of things alone gives a value to our
            reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge
            over another's.                       --locke.
      1913 webster

   2. that which is preferred; the object of choice or superior
      favor; as, which is your preference?
      1913 webster

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

preference
     n 1: a strong liking; "my own preference is for good literature";
          "the irish have a penchant for blarney" syn: penchant,
           predilection, taste
     2: a predisposition in favor of something; "a predilection for
        expensive cars"; "his sexual preferences"; "showed a
        marxist orientation" syn: predilection, orientation
     3: the right or chance to choose; "given my druthers, i'd eat
        cake" syn: druthers
     4: grant of favor or advantage to one over another especially
        to a country or countries in matters of international
        trade, such as levying duties
see also:
penchant predilection taste orientation druthers 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

129 moby thesaurus words for "preference":
   affinity, alternative, alternativity, animus, antecedence,
   antecedency, anteposition, anteriority, aptitude, bag, bent, bias,
   cast, character, choice, choosing, chosen kind, co-optation,
   co-option, constitution, cosset, cup of tea, darling, decision,
   desire, diathesis, discrimination, disposition, dominion, druthers,
   eccentricity, election, elevation, fancy, fascination, favor,
   favorite, favoritism, first choice, fondling, free choice,
   free will, front position, grain, idiosyncrasy, idol, inclination,
   individualism, inequality, interest, involvement, jewel, kidney,
   leaning, liking, make, makeup, matinee idol, mental set, mettle,
   mind, mind-set, minion, mold, mutual affinity, mutual attraction,
   nature, nepotism, one-sidedness, option, parti pris, partiality,
   particular choice, partisanism, partisanship, penchant,
   personal choice, pet, pick, precedence, precedency, preceding,
   precession, precursor, predilection, predisposition,
   preferential treatment, preferment, prefixation, prejudice,
   prelude, preoption, prepossession, priority, proclivity, promotion,
   propensity, prothesis, selection, set, slant, spoiled child, stamp,
   strain, streak, stripe, style, superiority, sympathy, taste,
   temper, temperament, tendency, the lead, the pick, thing,
   top priority, turn, turn of mind, twist, type, undetachment,
   undispassionateness, unneutrality, upgrading, urgency, volition,
   warp, will

[4] : Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

preference. the paying or securing to one or more of his creditors, by an 
insolvent debtor, the whole or a part of their claim, to the exclusion of 
the rest. by preference is also meant the right which a creditor has 
acquired over others to be paid first out of the assets of his debtor, as, 
when a creditor has obtained a judgment against his debtor which binds the 
latter's land, he has a preference. 
     2. voluntary preferences are forbidden by the insolvent laws of some of 
the states, and are void, when made in a general assignment for the benefit 
of creditors. vide insolvent; priority. 

[5] : THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993)

preference, n.  a sentiment, or frame of mind, induced by the
erroneous belief that one thing is better than another.
    an ancient philosopher, expounding his conviction that life is no
better than death, was asked by a disciple why, then, he did not die. 
"because," he replied, "death is no better than life."
    it is longer.

Preference >> P Words
Preference, definition of term: Preference
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