Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Preference \Pref"er*ence\, n. [Cf. F. pr['e]f['e]rence.]
   1. The act of Preferring, or the state of being preferred;
      the setting of one thing before another; precedence;
      higher estimation; predilection; choice; also, the power
      or opportunity of choosing; as, to give him his
      preference.

            Leave the critics on either side to contend about
            the preference due to this or that sort of poetry.
                                                  --Dryden.

            Knowledge of things alone gives a value to our
            reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge
            over another's.                       --Locke.

   2. That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior
      favor; as, which is your preference?

Source : WordNet®

preference
     n 1: a strong liking; "my own preference is for good literature";
          "the Irish have a penchant for blarney" [syn: {penchant},
           {predilection}, {taste}]
     2: a predisposition in favor of something; "a predilection for
        expensive cars"; "his sexual preferences"; "showed a
        Marxist orientation" [syn: {predilection}, {orientation}]
     3: the right or chance to choose; "given my druthers, I'd eat
        cake" [syn: {druthers}]
     4: grant of favor or advantage to one over another (especially
        to a country or countries in matters of international
        trade, such as levying duties)