preferable

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

Examples of preferable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s much preferable to, say, the 2024 listeria outbreak tied to lunch meat that killed 10 people. — Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026

Even with all these warnings, the chronically ill route is still highly preferable to the SSA route. — James Lange, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

In the great debate over how to address the national debt crisis, optimists suggest that expanding the economy is preferable to cutting federal spending. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 July 2026

While aggressive species can certainly create problems, a low-growing weed is often preferable to a patch of bare soil. — Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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