Word
preferable
Phoneticsprefer·able
US/ˈpɹɛfɝəbəɫ/
UK/pɹɪfˈɜːɹəbəl/
Definition
adj. better or more desirable than another option. You use it when you have to choose between two things and one is clearly the better choice.
adj. more desirable or suitable than the alternatives. Often used in comparative structures to indicate a superior option in a given context.
Examples
“A quiet room is preferable for studying.”
“While both hotels are nice, the one closer to the beach is preferable for our summer holiday.”
“In many professional environments, a direct and honest approach is preferable to a polite but vague response that leaves colleagues uncertain about the actual status of a project.”
Examples
simple
“A quiet room is preferable for studying.”
contextual
“While both hotels are nice, the one closer to the beach is preferable for our summer holiday.”
complex
“In many professional environments, a direct and honest approach is preferable to a polite but vague response that leaves colleagues uncertain about the actual status of a project.”
Usage
Commonly followed by the preposition 'to' when making a direct comparison; rarely used with 'than'.
Pitfall
This option is preferable than that one
This option is preferable to that one
Preferable is followed by the preposition 'to' rather than the comparative conjunction 'than'.
Real-World Examples
“Even if it caused one ‘to be very offensive’ and ‘obnoxious’, it was still preferable to dishonest politeness.” Etymology
From prefer + -able, probably after Middle French preferable. Compare preference, preferential, etc.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/preferable