Favor

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈfeɪvÉ™(ɹ)/
• US IPA: /ˈfeɪvÉš/
• Rhymes: -eɪvÉ™(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: fa + vor

Alternative forms

• favour British, Canadian

Origin

From Anglo-Norman favour, from mainland Old French favor, from Latin favor, respelled in American English to more closely match its Latin etymon.

Full definition of favor

Noun

1. A kind or helpful deed; an instance of voluntarily assisting (someone).
   He did me a favor when he took the time to drive me home.
2. Goodwill; benevolent regard.
   She enjoyed the queen's favor.
   to fall out of favor
• 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 5, Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady....She looked around expectantly, and recognizing Mrs. Cooke's maid...Miss Thorn greeted her with a smile which greatly prepossessed us in her favor.
3. A small gift; a party favor.
   At the holiday dinner, the hosts had set a favor by each place setting.
   A marriage favour is a bunch or knot of white ribbons or white flowers worn at a wedding.
• ShakespeareWear thou this favour for me, and stick it in thy cap.
4. Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.
• Jonathan SwiftI could not discover the lenity and favour of this sentence.
5. The object of regard; person or thing favoured.
• MiltonAll these his wondrous works, but chiefly man,
  His chief delight and favour.
6. (obsolete) Appearance; look; countenance; face.
• ShakespeareThis boy is fair, of female favour.
7. (legal) Partiality; bias.
8. (archaic, polite) A letter.Your favour of yesterday is received.
9. (obsolete, in the plural) lovelocks

Usage notes

Favor is the standard US spelling, and an alternative in Canada. Favour is the standard spelling in Canada and outside North America.

English speakers usually "do someone a favor" (rather than *"make them a favor", which would be sense 3 only). See for uses and meaning of favour collocated with these words.

Derived terms

• in favor
• in favor of
• party favor
• favorite

Verb

1. (transitive)  To look upon fondly; to prefer.
• And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. —, King James version, 1611
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 6, Even in an era when individuality in dress is a cult, his clothes were noticeable. He was wearing a hard hat of the low round kind favoured by hunting men, and with it a black duffle-coat lined with white.
2. (transitive)  To do a favor sense 1 for; to show beneficence toward.
   Would you favor us with a poetry reading?
3. (transitive)  To treat with care.
   Favoring your sore leg will only injure the other one.
4. (transitive)  To have a similar appearance, to look like another person.
   You favor your grandmother more than your mother.

Derived terms

• favorite (favourite)
• favoritism (favouritism)
• favorable (favourable)
• favored (favoured)