1.  favourite(n = noun.person) favorite, front-runner - a competitor thought likely to win;
is a kind of challenger, competition, competitor, contender, rival

2.  favourite(n = noun.person) darling, dearie, deary, ducky, favorite, pet - a special loved one;
is a kind of lover
has particulars: chosen, macushla, mollycoddle, teacher's pet
Derived form adjective favourite₂

3.  favourite(n = noun.cognition) favorite - something regarded with special favor or liking; "that book is one of my favorites"
is a kind of choice, pick, selection
Derived form adjective favourite₁

1.  favourite(s = adj.all) favorite - appealing to the general public; "a favorite tourist attraction"
Derived form noun favourite₃

2.  favourite(s = adj.all) best-loved, favored, favorite, pet, preferent, preferred - preferred above all others and treated with partiality; "the favored child"
Derived form noun favourite₂

favourite, adj. & n. (US favorite)
--adj. preferred to all others (my favourite book).
--n.
1 a specially favoured person.
2 Sport a competitor thought most likely to win.

Idiom:
favourite son US a person preferred as the presidential candidate by delegates from the candidate's home State.

Etymology:
obs. F favorit f. It. favorito past part. of favorire favour

favourite son