Cherished vs Favourite

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Cherished

Top 3,000 (common)

Favourite

Top 2,000 (common) A1 adjective

Most common: Favourite

	Cherished	Favourite
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ˈtʃɛrɪʃt// 🇺🇸 //ˈtʃɛrɪʃt//	🇬🇧 /["/ˈfeɪvərɪt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈfeɪvərɪt/"]/
Meaning	Something that is loved and valued very much.	The thing you like the most.
Example	She has many cherished memories from her childhood.	It's one of my favourite movies.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 3,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	-	A1
Part of speech		adjective
Collocations	cherished memories, cherished beliefs, cherished possessions, cherished relationships	favourite food, favourite color, favourite movie, favourite song, favourite place
Antonyms	disregarded, neglected, forgotten	least liked, unpopular
Common mistakes	Confusing with 'cherish' as a noun instead of a verb., Misusing the word by saying 'cherished for' instead of 'cherished by'.	Confused with 'favouritism', which means giving unfair advantage., Incorrect spelling, such as 'favorit' or 'favourite's'., 'Favourite' doesn't work as a verb; it's only a noun/adjective.
Usage notes	Used in emotional contexts to express deep affection. Avoid in casual situations; it's more suited for sentimental discussions.	Use 'favourite' in situations where you talk about something you really like, such as food, books, or activities. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. In some regions (like the US), 'favorite' is more commonly used.

See it in real clips

"and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved lost,

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

Then he will be loved and cherished.

BROWNING: Must be a cherished memory of his.

"and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved lost,

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

Then he will be loved and cherished.

Cherished

My favourite book.

Sherlock › S1 E1

and we found it in the hands of our favourite psychopath.

Top Gear › S1 E1

And this is my favourite bit. Under famous owners.

My favourite book.

Sherlock › S1 E1

and we found it in the hands of our favourite psychopath.

Favourite

Frequently asked questions: Cherished vs Favourite

What's the difference between Cherished and Favourite?

Cherished: Something that is loved and valued very much. Favourite: The thing you like the most.

Which is more common: Cherished and Favourite?

Favourite is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Cherished: She has many cherished memories from her childhood. Favourite: It's one of my favourite movies.

Can I use Cherished and Favourite interchangeably?

Not always. Cherished and Favourite are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.