Favoritism means treating certain people better than others not because they've earned it, but simply because you like them more or have a special connection to them. When a teacher shows favoritism, she might always call on the same student, give that student easier assignments, or overlook that student's mistakes while being strict with everyone else. When a coach shows favoritism, he might give his favorite players more playing time even when other kids are working just as hard.

Favoritism creates unfairness because it ignores merit, effort, or actual performance. Imagine two students turn in identical projects, but one receives an A while the other gets a B, simply because the teacher likes one student better. That's favoritism, and it frustrates people because it makes them feel their hard work doesn't matter.

Parents sometimes struggle with favoritism too. When one child always gets picked for special treats or never faces consequences for misbehaving, siblings notice and feel hurt. The word can also apply to broader situations: if a principal shows favoritism toward certain clubs by giving them better equipment and more funding, other clubs suffer unfairly.

People often use the phrase playing favorites to describe this behavior. While it's natural to connect more easily with some people than others, fairness means treating everyone according to the same standards, regardless of personal feelings.