pref·er·ence 
/ˈprɛfrəns/ noun
plural pref·er·encenc·es /ˈprɛfrəns/ noun 1 : a feeling of liking or wanting one person or thing more than another person or thing [count] ▪ Car buyers have recently shown a growing/strong preference for smaller vehicles. ▪ When it comes to music, everyone has their own preferences. [noncount] ▪ Some people like small cars and some people like big cars. It's a matter of personal preference. ▪ She listed her favorite restaurants in order of preference. ▪ He has tried not to show preference in giving out jobs. 2 [noncount] : an advantage that is given to some people or things and not to others
▪ The policy of the school is to give preference to minority candidates. 3 [count] : something that is liked or wanted more than another thing : something that is preferred
▪ We could drive to New York, but my (personal) preference is to go by train. [=I would prefer to go by train] ▪ “We could go to an Italian or Chinese restaurant tonight. What's your preference?” “Either one is fine. I don't have a preference.” 4 : the sexual feelings that a person has : a person's identity as homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual [count] ▪ people with different (sexual) preferences [=orientations] [noncount] ▪ The company claims it does not discriminate on the basis of sexual preference.
▪ The policy of the school is to give preference to minority candidates.
▪ We could drive to New York, but my (personal) preference is to go by train. [=I would prefer to go by train] ▪ “We could go to an Italian or Chinese restaurant tonight. What's your preference?” “Either one is fine. I don't have a preference.”
in preference to
: instead of (something or someone) : rather than (something or someone)
▪ They chose her in preference to me.
▪ They chose her in preference to me.
