preferred

adjective

pre·​ferred pri-ˈfərd How to pronounce preferred (audio)
Synonyms of preferrednext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While some enjoyed the extra amount of ice cream filling, with one editor choosing it as their favorite, some preferred sandwiches with much less ice cream and a more classic ratio. Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 16 May 2026 The dissent’s methodology seems like an instance of textualism, the preferred statutory interpretation theory of most conservatives, which purports to ignore legislative purpose. Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 15 May 2026 Techniques such as reinforcement learning from human feedback encourage the model toward preferred responses. Sandeep Shilawat, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 That means, the lawmakers said, that Virginia is unable to use Democrats' preferred map even if the Supreme Court had allowed it. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for preferred

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of preferred was in 1748

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Cite this Entry

“Preferred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preferred. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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