preferred

adjective

pre·​ferred pri-ˈfərd How to pronounce preferred (audio)
1
: liked better or best : used or wanted in preference to others
a preferred method
'Leveled' is the preferred spelling in American English.
2
: having special status or receiving special treatment or benefits
preferred customers

Examples of preferred in a Sentence

my preferred means of communication is e-mail
Recent Examples on the Web The conservation biologist with Tucson Audubon leads the annual count, moving crews of volunteer birders from range to range by the week to track the population’s trajectory in the bird’s preferred elevations between 5,000 and 6,000 feet. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024 Since Becca was Jewish and therefore preferred to be buried rather than cremated per tradition, Karsh had her corpse wrapped in one of his tech company’s newest products: a shroud made from electronic mesh and sensors that composes a detailed visual map of the body. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024 While men once stuck to a preferred fragrance for years or even decades, Gen Z customers are more likely to shop around, said Korinne Wolfmeyer, a senior research analyst for Piper Sandler and an author of its teen spending report. Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 19 May 2024 Among those Tapia cited was the requirement to refer to students by their preferred pronouns. Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 15 May 2024 The city unveiled its final, preferred design concept for a new pier last month. Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2024 News of Trujillo’s preferred cold brew concentration arrived during a recent chat with New Scientist, alongside a new rundown of his team’s work in the journal, Ultrasonics Sonochemistry. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 May 2024 Sweden’s preferred measure of inflation has fallen to 2.2%, close to the Riksbank’s target of 2%. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 8 May 2024 Southwest Airlines is a flyer favorite for economy Southwest Airlines kept its position as the preferred economy carrier for the third year in a row, earning 685 points. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preferred.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of preferred was in 1748

Dictionary Entries Near preferred

Cite this Entry

“Preferred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preferred. Accessed 23 May. 2024.

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