favoritism
noun
fa·vor·it·ism
ˈfā-v(ə-)rə-ˌti-zəm 
ˈfā-vər-
1
: the showing of special favor : partiality
2
: the state or fact of being a favorite
Examples of favoritism in a Sentence
He accused the teacher of showing favoritism in assigning grades.
Recent Examples on the Web
During the toddler years many children begin expressing favoritism.
—
Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
Success in combat is less subjective than success in many other activities and therefore leaves less room for favoritism, rent seeking, and old-fashioned sandbagging.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Gonzalez, the former National Security Council official, said senior policymakers thought that embassy staff were showing favoritism to Bukele, sending reports that minimized the growing crisis of democracy in El Salvador.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 30 Sep. 2025
Part of that shortage appears to have been addressed with direct appointments by judges from the bench — an uncommon practice that is often avoided over concerns of favoritism swaying those decisions.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for favoritism
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Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
Success in combat is less subjective than success in many other activities and therefore leaves less room for favoritism, rent seeking, and old-fashioned sandbagging.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Gonzalez, the former National Security Council official, said senior policymakers thought that embassy staff were showing favoritism to Bukele, sending reports that minimized the growing crisis of democracy in El Salvador.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 30 Sep. 2025
Part of that shortage appears to have been addressed with direct appointments by judges from the bench — an uncommon practice that is often avoided over concerns of favoritism swaying those decisions.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for favoritism
Cite this Entry
“Favoritism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/favoritism. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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favoritism
noun
fa·vor·it·ism
ˈfāv-(ə-)rət-ˌiz-əm
: unfairly favorable treatment of some while neglecting others
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