FAVOURITISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does favouritism mean? 

• FAVOURITISM (noun)
  The noun FAVOURITISM has 2 senses:

1. an inclination to favor some person or group

2. unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice

  Familiarity information: FAVOURITISM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FAVOURITISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An inclination to favor some person or group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

favoritism; favouritism

Hypernyms ("favouritism" is a kind of...):

disposition; inclination; tendency (an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

discrimination; favoritism; favouritism

Hypernyms ("favouritism" is a kind of...):

social control (control exerted (actively or passively) by group action)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "favouritism"):

able-bodiedism; able-bodism; ableism; ablism (discrimination in favor of the able-bodied)

ageism; agism (discrimination on the basis of a person's age)

cronyism (favoritism shown to friends and associates (as by appointing them to positions without regard for their qualifications))

fatism; fattism (discrimination against people who are overweight)

heterosexism (discrimination in favor of heterosexual and against homosexual people)

nepotism (favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs))

racial discrimination; racialism; racism (discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race)

sexism (discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of the opposite sex)

 Context examples 

“And when you make use of your position of favouritism here, sir,” pursued Mr. Mell, with his lip trembling very much, “to insult a gentleman—”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Then I spoke frankly, telling him what I was enduring from Thomas Mugridge because of the three days of favouritism which had been shown me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“I meant, Mr. Creakle,” he returned in a low voice, “as I said; that no pupil had a right to avail himself of his position of favouritism to degrade me.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)