Preferred means liked better than other options, or chosen as the favorite when several choices exist. When a teacher asks students to line up in their preferred order for a game, each student picks the spot they want most. When a doctor asks about your preferred method of communication, she wants to know whether you'd rather receive appointment reminders by text, email, or phone call.

Your preferred seat in the classroom might be near the window, while your friend's preferred spot is up front. A restaurant might list its house specialty as the chef's preferred dish to recommend.

In business and official settings, preferred often appears in phrases like “preferred stock” (a type of investment people choose for certain advantages) or “preferred customer” (someone a business treats specially because they're a loyal buyer). Libraries use preferred name to mean the name you want people to call you, even if it differs from your legal name.

Notice that preferred doesn't mean something is objectively better. It just means someone chose it over the alternatives. Your preferred flavor of ice cream is simply the one you personally like best, not the one everyone must agree is superior.