favoured

Favoured is the British English spelling of the past participle of the verb to favour. It can function as an adjective meaning preferred or treated with special regard or advantage, as in “a favoured candidate” or “a favoured treatment.” It can also describe something that has been granted endorsement, support, or protection by another person or institution, yielding a privileged status.

In politics, governance, and business, the term is commonly used to denote preferential treatment, whether formal or informal. In international trade, the phrase most-favoured nation (MFN) status designates non-discriminatory, widely extended trade advantages among members; the British spelling is most-favoured-nation, while American English typically uses most-favored-nation. The concept is central to trade agreements and multilateral organizations, where members accord each other baseline treatment to ensure equal access to benefits.

Etymology and usage notes: favoured derives from Old French faveur, from Latin favor. In British English, the noun is favour and the past participle/friendly adjective is favoured; in American English, favor and favored are used. The term appears in formal or bureaucratic contexts and often in compound forms such as favoured status, favoured nation, or well-favoured, where the sense ranges from political preference to advantageous appearance or likelihood.