advantage

An advantage is a condition, circumstance, or resource that gives a person or thing a more favorable position relative to others. It can be temporary or enduring and may arise from skill, information, equipment, timing, or geographic position. The term is often contrasted with disadvantage.

In everyday usage, statements of advantage are relative: A has an advantage over B if A's position yields better outcomes under the same circumstances. An advantage can be quantitative (more points, faster time) or qualitative (better access to data). The phrase take advantage of is common and can express opportunism (neutral) or exploitation (negative); context determines tone.

In sports and games, advantages can refer to favorable rules, equipment, or situational leverage. In business, competitive advantage describes enduring strengths that allow a company to outperform rivals, such as cost leadership or product differentiation. In law and policy, advantages may refer to favorable legal or regulatory conditions; discussions often address how advantages are obtained and used and what constitutes fair play or ethical use.

The word derives from Old French avantage, ultimately from avant “before/forward.” It has cognates in several Romance languages. The term also appears in phrases like disadvantage and advantageous, reflecting its role in expressing relative position.