More desirable or suitable than alternatives; worthy of being chosen over other options. Indicates a comparative advantage or benefit.
From Latin 'praeferre' (to bear before, prefer) + '-able' suffix. Entered English in the 17th century, combining the concept of preference with the possibility of choice.
Preferable is beautifully logical—it literally means 'able to be preferred'—yet we often hear people say 'more preferable,' which is technically redundant since the word already contains the comparative meaning within itself!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.