Tra từ preference - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

pref·er·ence [preference preferences] BrE [ˈprefrəns] NAmE [ˈprefrəns] noun
1. uncountable, singular ~ (for sb/sth) a greater interest in or desire for sb/sth than sb/sth else
• It's a matter of personal preference.
• Many people expressed a strong preference for the original plan.
•I can't say that I have any particular preference.
•Let's make a list of possible speakers, in order of preference.
2. countable a thing that is liked better or best
•a study of consumer preferences
Idioms: ↑give preference to somebody ▪ ↑in preference to somebody

Word Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘promotion’): from Old French, from medieval Latin praeferentia, from Latin praeferre ‘carry in front’, from prae ‘before’ + ferre ‘to bear, carry’.

Thesaurus:
preference noun U, sing.
•Most people expressed a strong preference for the original plan.
taste • • liking • • weakness • |approving love • • passion •
a preference/taste/liking/weakness/passion for sth
have a preference/taste/liking/weakness/love/passion for sth
show a preference/liking for sth
Preference or taste? A preference is always a choice between two or more things, places, people, etc.; a taste is not
•a taste for French bread
• a preference for red wine (= rather than white wine)

Synonyms:
choice
favourite • preference • selection • pick
These are all words for a person or thing that is chosen, or that is liked more than others.
choice • a person or thing that is chosen: ▪ She's the obvious choice for the job.
favourite/favorite • a person or thing that you like more than the others of the same type: ▪ Which one's your favourite?
preference • a thing that is liked better or best: ▪ Tastes and preferences vary from individual to individual.
favourite or preference?
Your favourites are the things you like best, and that you have, do, listen to, etc. often; your preferences are the things that you would rather have or do if you can choose.
selection • a number of people or things that have been chosen from a larger group: ▪ A selection of reader's comments are published below.
pick • (rather informal, especially NAmE) a person or thing that is chosen: ▪ She was his pick for best actress.
sb's choice/favourite/pick for sth
sb's choice/selection/pick as sth
an obvious choice/favourite/selection
a(n) excellent/good/popular/fine choice/selection

Example Bank:
•Do you have any particular preference?
•He has not expressed a preference as to which school he wants to go to.
•His policy preferences are pretty centrist.
•I choose motorways when driving, for preference.
•I travel by plane, for preference.
•It's a matter of personal preference.
•Learners show a preference for one learning style over others.
•List the candidates in order of preference.
•Local voters gave Harry West first preference.
•My first preference is for the applicant from Hong Kong.
•Older people tend to express a preference for dark chocolate.
•Preference is given to students who have passed mathematics and chemistry.
•She was happy to arrange her schedule to suit their preferences.
•Some countries receive preference over others.
•They bought French planes in preference to British ones.
•changing preferences in furniture styles
•designs that reflect their individual preferences
•discrimination based on race, religion, gender or sexual preference
•his consistent opposition to racial preferences while a legislator
•modern children's food preferences
•people's preferences between brown and white bread
•student preferences towards/toward the various activities
•the government's preference for tax cuts over greater public spending
•their preferences regarding websites
•I can't say that I have any particular preference.
•Let's make a list of possible speakers, in order of preference.
•Tastes and preferences vary from individual to individual.
•They are undertaking a study of consumer preferences.
•a preference for brown bread