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preference

1 ENTRIES FOUND:
preference /ˈprɛfrəns/ noun
plural preferences
preference
/ˈprɛfrəns/
noun
plural preferences
Britannica Dictionary definition of PREFERENCE
: a feeling of liking or wanting one person or thing more than another person or thing
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[noncount]
[noncount] : an advantage that is given to some people or things and not to others
[count] : something that is liked or wanted more than another thing : something that is preferred
offensive : the sexual feelings that a person has : a person's identity as homosexual, bisexual, heterosexual, etc.
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[noncount]
◊ This use of the word preference is widely considered offensive because it implies that a person can choose who they are sexually or romantically attracted to. The word orientation is preferred.

in preference to

: instead of (something or someone) : rather than (something or someone)