{
    "term": "preference",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a greater interest in or desire for somebody/something than somebody/something else",
            "sensetop": "preference for somebody/something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It's a matter of **personal preference**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I can't say that I have any particular preference."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many people **expressed a strong preference** for the original plan.",
                    "contextForm": "preference for somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Let's make a list of possible speakers, **in order of preference**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has not expressed a preference as to which school he wants to go to."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I travel by plane, for preference."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Learners show a preference for one learning style over others."
                },
                {
                    "text": "My first preference is for the applicant from Hong Kong."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Older people tend to express a preference for dark chocolate."
                },
                {
                    "text": "discrimination based on race, religion, gender or sexual preference"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the government's preference for tax cuts over greater public spending"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Preferences and decisions"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["clear", "definite", "marked"],
                "verb + preference": ["have", "demonstrate", "display"],
                "preposition": [
                    "for preference",
                    "in preference to",
                    "preference as to"
                ],
                "phrases": ["in order of preference"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a thing that is liked better or best",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a study of consumer preferences"
                },
                {
                    "text": "His policy preferences are pretty centrist."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was happy to arrange her schedule to suit their preferences."
                },
                {
                    "text": "changing preferences in furniture styles"
                },
                {
                    "text": "designs that reflect their individual preferences"
                },
                {
                    "text": "modern children's food preferences"
                },
                {
                    "text": "their preferences regarding websites"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Tastes and preferences vary from individual to individual."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["clear", "definite", "marked"],
                "verb + preference": ["have", "demonstrate", "display"],
                "preposition": [
                    "for preference",
                    "in preference to",
                    "preference as to"
                ],
                "phrases": ["in order of preference"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to treat somebody/something in a way that gives them an advantage over other people or things",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Preference will be given to graduates of this university."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "rather than somebody/something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She was chosen in preference to her sister."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They bought French planes in preference to British ones."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈprefrəns/",
                "audio": "pr/preference/preference__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈprefrəns/",
                "audio": "pr/preference/preference__us_1_rr.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "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’."
}