preferred

adjective

pre·​ferred pri-ˈfərd 

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

Synonyms

• cherry-picked
• choice
• chosen
• elect
• favored
• favorite
• first-line
• handpicked
• picked
• select
• selected

Examples of preferred in a Sentence

my preferred means of communication is e-mail

Recent Examples on the Web

The plum political prize, of course, will be deciding how congressional districts are drawn, perhaps giving this parochial court a major say in which party—and its preferred Speaker—gets to run the U.S. House. —Philip Elliott, Time, 31 Mar. 2025

Senate Bill 440, or SB 440, prohibits public employers from requiring employees to use trans people’s preferred pronouns, and would also prohibit employers from being required to use trans workers’ preferred pronouns. —James Factora, Them., 31 Mar. 2025

Conflict also emerges between a woman named Angela (Daniela Mack) and Claire over who gets to be Howard’s preferred subordinate. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025

Explore Pawleys Island Destin, Florida Digital editor Mary Shannon Hodes doesn’t just take a yearly visit to her preferred Southern beach. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing preferred

• preferred provider
• preferred provider organization
• preferred stock

Rhymes for preferred

• afterword
• firebird
• hummingbird
• ladybird
• mockingbird
• overheard
• thunderbird
• undergird
• undeterred
• absurd
• averred
• bluebird