Favourite or Favorite | Meaning, Spelling & Examples
Favourite and favorite are different spellings of the noun used to refer to something that is well liked and the adjective meaning ‘preferred above all others’. The word is closely related to the verb and noun ‘favour/favor‘.
The spelling tends to vary depending on whether you’re using UK or US English:
- In UK English, ‘favourite’ (with a ‘u’) is standard.
- In US English, ‘favorite’ (no ‘u’) is the correct spelling.
Summer is undoubtedly my favourite/favorite season.
History is Joseline’s favourite/favorite school subject.
Andre enjoys hiking and reading, but travelling is his favourite/favorite pastime.
Other forms of the word
The spelling distinction carries over to related forms of the word, such as the noun “favouritism/favoritism” and the adjective ‘favourable/favorable’.
- In UK English, ‘favouritism’ and ‘favourable’ are standard.
- In US English, ‘favoritism’ and ‘favorable’ are correct.
The critic wrote a favourable/favorable review of Johan’s book.
Other interesting language articles
If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, common mistakes, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
Confused words
Definitions
US vs. UK spellings
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between favorite and favourite?
-
Favorite and favourite mean the same thing. However, the spelling varies depending on whether you’re using UK or US English:
- In US English, ‘favorite’ (no ‘u’) is standard.
- In UK English, ‘favourite’ (with a ‘u’) is correct.
- Is favourite a verb?
-
Favourite is used as a verb in informal contexts to refer to the act of bookmarking a webpage or showing that you like something on social media (e.g., ‘1,000 users have favourited my post’). However, this usage should be avoided in academic writing.
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.
Ryan, E. (2023, March 14). Favourite or Favorite | Meaning, Spelling & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 22 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/uk-vs-us/favourite-vs-favorite/
