| n. | 1. | The act of Preferring, or the state of being preferred; the setting of one thing before another; precedence; higher estimation; predilection; choice; also, the power or opportunity of choosing; |
| 2. | That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference? |
| Noun | 1. | preference - a strong liking; "my own preference is for good literature"; "the Irish have a penchant for blarney" |
| 2. | preference - a predisposition in favor of something; "a predilection for expensive cars"; "his sexual preferences"; "showed a Marxist orientation" Synonyms: predilection, orientation | |
| 3. | preference - the right or chance to choose; "given my druthers, I'd eat cake" Synonyms: druthers | |
| 4. | preference - grant of favor or advantage to one over another (especially to a country or countries in matters of international trade, such as levying duties) |
PREFERENCE. The paying or securing to one or more of his creditors, by an
insolvent debtor, the whole or a part of their claim, to the exclusion of
the rest. By preference is also meant the right which a creditor has
acquired over others to be paid first out of the assets of his debtor, as,
when a creditor has obtained a judgment against his debtor which binds the
latter's land, he has a preference.
2. Voluntary preferences are forbidden by the insolvent laws of some of
the states, and are void, when made in a general assignment for the benefit
of creditors. Vide Insolvent; Priority.