preferable

1 of 2

adjective

pref·​er·​a·​ble ˈpre-f(ə-)rə-bəl 

ˈpre-fər-bəl

also pri-ˈfər-ə-bəl

: having greater value or desirability : being preferred

preferability

ˌpre-f(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

preferability

2 of 2

noun

pref·​er·​a·​bil·​i·​ty ˌpref(ə)rəˈbilətē 

-lətē, 

-i

: preferableness

Examples of preferable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Secretary of Defense (now known as the Secretary of War) proposes a nuclear strike as a precautionary response, but the team decides that nuclear annihilation is scarcely preferable to a new pandemic. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026

That’s vastly preferable to their endless, agonizing string of errors of omission. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 July 2026

Whatever difficulties this might create, dealing with Cassell is probably preferable to trying to get past some dinosaurs via Una’s shoot-the-dinosaur-in-the-mouth stun-and-run strategy, as effective as this turns out to be. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 July 2026

Shleifer later argued that private ownership is generally preferable in industries where firms must constantly innovate and keep costs low to remain competitive. — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

preferable + -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

1666, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preferable

• referable

Kids Definition

preferable

adjective

pref·​er·​a·​ble ˈpref-(ə-)rə-bəl 

ˈpref-ər-bəl

: worthy to be preferred : more desirable

preferability

ˌpref-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

preferably

ˈpref-(ə-)rə-blē 

ˈpref-ər-

adverb