Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A special liking for something; a preference.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A prepossession of the mind in favor of something; a preference.
  • noun Synonyms Liking, Attachment, etc. (see love), partiality, inclination (toward), preference.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A previous liking; a prepossession of mind in favor of something; predisposition to choose or like; partiality.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Condition of favoring or liking; tendency towards; proclivity; predisposition.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a predisposition in favor of something
  • noun a strong liking

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French prédilection, from Old French, from Medieval Latin praedīlēctus, past participle of praedīligere, to prefer : Latin prae-, pre- + Latin dīligere, to love; see diligent.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French prédilection.

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Examples

  • Of course, my predilection is for reporting, and any pundity I do I like to keep subordinate to the reportage.

    Back to basics ... Frank Wilson 2006

  • Personally, my predilection is toward the no-tilt side.

    Archive 2005-01-01 2005

  • Does a secret murmur here demand: if a discerning predilection is no crime, why, internally at least, may it not be cherished? whom can it injure or offend, that, in the hidden recesses of my own breast, I nourish superior preference of superior worth?

    Camilla: or, A Picture of Youth 1796

  • Whatever your predilection is as a filmmaker, as the technologies and modes of delivery emerge … if you want to do abstract, feminist, animations with meat … you’ll be able to find your consumer.

    Current Movie Reviews, Independent Movies - Film Threat 2005

  • He built an hospital for the sick of all kinds, but the objects of his predilection were the lepers, and those hopelessly afflicted.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 10: Mass Music-Newman 1840-1916 1913

  • If our Lord will require His flock at the hands of their pastors, He will undoubtedly require from them a stricter account of that part of his flock for which he has always shown a particular predilection, that is, for children.

    Public School Education Michael M��ller 1862

  • This American predilection, which is neither good nor bad, has resulted in movies that are grand social documents Schindler's

    SFGate: Top News Stories Chronicle mlasalle@sfchronicle.com (Mick LaSalle 2011

  • This American predilection, which is neither good nor bad, has resulted in movies that are grand social documents Schindler's

    SFGate: Top News Stories Chronicle mlasalle@sfchronicle.com (Mick LaSalle 2011

  • Because I very much enjoy reading about people's lives an unappreciative therapist might term my predilection voyeurism, I gravitate toward the biography and memoir section of libraries and bookstores.

    NPR Topics: News 2010

  • Because I very much enjoy reading about people's lives an unappreciative therapist might term my predilection voyeurism, I gravitate toward the biography and memoir section of libraries and bookstores.

    NPR Topics: News 2010

Comments

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  • "'Bubba' had an unfortunate predilection for cat blood, and he was addlepated, and he could only follow the simplest directions;..." -Club Dead, by Charlaine Harris

    February 5, 2011

  • a strong liking

    Monte had a predilection for the fine things in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine, and trips to the French Riviera.

    October 12, 2016