So, you have a list of things on your Twitter account.
And these things are all favourited by you.
But then one day you decide that one of those things isn’t very good, so you unfavorite it so that it won’t show up in your list anymore.
You probably don’t think anything more of the incident after that, but is this actually a word?
The answer is yes.
Unfavourite
Unfavourite is a term that had been popularised by Twitter and social media users many years ago, as new terms continued to enter social networking such as ‘friend’ and ‘unfriend,’ ‘follow’ and ‘unfollow,’ ‘tag’ and ‘untag.’
You can find the term ‘unfavourite’ in the Collins Dictionary Online and Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online. These are both major dictionaries, so essentially, unfavorite IS a word.
Unfavourite is the opposite of favorite. It essentially means “not being a favourite” and can be used to form a noun, verb or adjective.
It is very informal and most often used when referring to removing something from your list of favorites on the internet.
According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, however, the first known use of the term was from 1823. It was always a very underutilized word in the English language, especially considering how many unfavourite things we probably have.
Not so fast!
Twitter doesn’t have an unfavorite button anymore.
Please note, however, that Twitter replaced the ‘favourite’ star icon with the ‘like’ icon in 2015. They were trying to follow Facebook and YouTube with the ability to ‘like’ content instead.
However, the word still had enough time to catch on, and it is used by internet users today, possibly in place of ‘unlike.’
Other Ways to Say Unfavourite
- Least favourite
- Remove from favourites
- Unfave
- Unlike
- Dislike
You may also be interested in: 15 Best Online English Courses Free & Paid (2022)
Example Sentences with Unfavourite
- He unfavourited my image.
- I want to unfavourite that Tweet.
- We all have our favourites and unfavourites!
- I unfavourited 5 of his Tweets.
- I am the unfavourite aunt in the family.
Outside of the social media realm, native English speakers don’t use this word and will likely be confused.
In everyday life, I recommend avoiding using the word ‘unfavourite’ unless referring to social media.
It is easy to replace ‘unfavourite’ with a different word. For instance, you could replace the last sentence example with “she is my least favorite aunt” instead.
Unfavorite or Unfavourite?
‘Favourite’ is the American Spelling, whereas ‘favorite’ is the British English spelling.
The same is applied to ‘unfavorite’ and ‘unfavourite.’
In Conclusion
Unfavourite is a word.
It means “not being a favourite,” so essentially, “to dislike something very much.”
Unfavourite is often associated with social media.
In today’s day and age, it is being used to refer to removing something from your list of favourites on the internet.
What are your thoughts and opinions? I am open to hearing other people’s perspectives and welcome a discussion on the matter!
Useful Links
- Highschool or High School? One Word or Two Word Spelling?
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- No’s vs Nos vs Noes: Plural of Yes and No
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- What Kind of Vs What Kinds of? Which is Correct?
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.
