favoritism
The teacher was accused of favoritism when she gave the top grades only to her favorite students.
The teacher was criticized for unfairly giving the best grades to students she liked more than others.
the practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group over others
The company's policy against favoritism ensures equal opportunities for all employees.
The rule prohibits unfairly favoring some workers over others.
She filed a complaint about favoritism in promotions within the department.
She reported that promotions were being decided based on personal bias rather than merit.
Often used in workplace, educational, or social contexts where fairness is expected.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Avoiding favoritism
In team settings, document decision-making processes (e.g., performance reviews) to ensure transparency and reduce perceptions of favoritism.
Gold Rule
Context matters
Favoritism is subjective; what feels like 'fair' treatment to one person may seem biased to another. Clear, objective criteria help mitigate this.
Word Origin
From 'favorite' (16th century, meaning 'one who is preferred') + suffix '-ism' (denoting a practice or system), first recorded in the late 18th century.
Usage Notes
Favoritism implies a negative connotation and is often criticized in professional or institutional settings. It differs from 'nepotism' (favoring relatives) or 'cronyism' (favoring friends) by being more general.