preferment
Rise in rank
Preferment is advancement or promotion, especially to a higher position or rank.
The word appears most often in formal or historical contexts—ecclesiastical preferment meant appointment to a church office with income attached.
More broadly, preferment suggests being favored or given priority: His preferment over more senior candidates caused resentment.
The word implies selection by those in power rather than achievement through merit alone.
Endowed clerical position
- rectoryClergy dwelling near church
- parishLocal church community
- livingsMeans of support
- vicarageClergy residence
diocese · canonry · chaplaincy · deanery · bishopric · pastorate · priesthood · ordination
Preferring kin in hiring
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
favor · discrimination · unfairness · inequity · prejudice · connections · insider · networking
Rank increase or publicity
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- elevationHeight above reference point
- progressionSequential forward movement
- ascentUpward movement
rise · appointment · succession · opportunity · prospects · trajectory · career · ladder
Microbial sugar conversion
- leavenFermenting agent for dough
- sourdoughWild-yeast bread starter
- starterInitiator of action
- doughFlour-liquid mixture for baking
yeast · sponge · culture · risen · proofing · bread · artisan
Assumed right to benefits
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
- accessRight to enter
- exclusivityState of being limited
- statusOne's relative position
elite · prestige · aristocracy · nobility · gentry · birthright · inheritance · VIP
benefice
Endowed clerical position
vicarage · diocese · canonry · chaplaincy · deanery · bishopric · pastorate · priesthood · ordination · curate
nepotism
Preferring kin in hiring
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
bias · favor · discrimination · unfairness · inequity · prejudice · connections · insider · networking · partisanship
promotion
Rank increase or publicity
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- elevationHeight above reference point
- progressionSequential forward movement
ascent · rise · appointment · succession · opportunity · prospects · trajectory · career · ladder · recognition
fermentation
Microbial sugar conversion
dough · yeast · sponge · culture · risen · proofing · bread · artisan
entitlement
Assumed right to benefits
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
- accessRight to enter
- exclusivityState of being limited
status · elite · prestige · aristocracy · nobility · gentry · birthright · inheritance · VIP · patrician
- honorsmedal, award, trophy, certificate, prize
- leavenersbaking powder, baking soda, yeast, baker's yeast, active dry yeast
- beneficesbenefice, living, rectory, vicarage, curacy
- startersstarter, sourdough starter, levain, mother dough, sponge
- bakingbaking, bread baking, cake decorating, mixing, whisking
- churchnave, pew, pews, altar, altars
prefermentdemotion
Reduction in status
degradation · downgrade · dethronement · deposition · dismissal
prefermentrejection
Denial of acceptance
overlooking · passing over · neglect · disfavor · snub
prefer, preference, preferred, preferable, preferably, preferring, preferential, preferentially