predilection

noun pre·di·lec·tion \ˌpre-də-ˈlek-shən, ˌprē-\

: a natural liking for something : a tendency to do or to be attracted to something

Full Definition of PREDILECTION

: an established preference for something

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Examples of PREDILECTION

It's true that black audiences have always had a predilection for talking back at performances. But more than that is going on in this theatre: the intensity of engagement is palpable. —Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New Yorker, 3 Feb. 1997
The predilection of certain upper-class Englishmen toward eccentricity and playacting lent itself well to this endeavor. —Robert D. Kaplan, The Arabists, 1993
Even seated in the witness chair, he did not remove the light-colored, belted raincoat that, in common with knee-high boots, is a predilection of the Nazi-minded and that, in his case, was nearly identical to the raincoat Hitler habitually wore. —Kay Boyle, “Preface from the Smoking … ,” 1950, in Words that Must Somehow be Said: Selected Essays of Kay Boyle 1927–1984, 1985
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Origin of PREDILECTION

French prédilection, from Medieval Latin praediligere to love more, prefer, from Latin prae- + diligere to love — more at diligent

First Known Use: 1742

Related to PREDILECTION

Synonyms: affection, affinity, aptitude, bent, bias, bone, devices, disposition, genius, habitude, impulse, leaning, partiality, penchant, inclination, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency, turn

Synonym Discussion of PREDILECTION

predilection, prepossession, prejudice, bias mean an attitude of mind that predisposes one to favor something. predilection implies a strong liking deriving from one's temperament or experience <a predilection for travel>. prepossession suggests a fixed conception likely to preclude objective judgment of anything counter to it <a prepossession against technology>. prejudice usually implies an unfavorable prepossession and connotes a feeling rooted in suspicion, fear, or intolerance <a mindless prejudice against the unfamiliar>. bias implies an unreasoned and unfair distortion of judgment in favor of or against a person or thing <a strong bias toward the plaintiff>.