least favourable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "least favourable" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe the most negative or undesirable aspect of something. Example: "Although the new regulations may have some positive effects, the least favourable aspect is the increased cost for small businesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Knight's plan for London enjoyed the least favourable response.

The Guardian

Darling and the prime minister, Gordon Brown, had previously described this as the "least favourable option".

The Guardian - Business

The shrinkage properties of CSM subgrade are the least favourable in the temperature range − 10 °C to 10 °C.

Cold Regions Science and Technology

The results indicated that participants were most favourable to offshore development and least favourable to development at the identified sites.

Energy Policy

On the other hand, Scenario S was the least favourable due to the high EC and EE of the binder.

Construction and Building Materials

They lost to the Packers and Bears, and though they were competitive in both games this looks like the least favourable match-up yet.

The Guardian - Sport

In the present study they are determined to produce the least favourable initial deflection (largest deflection) at a given point and the solution is obtained by convex modelling.

Composite Structures

Three laboratory accelerated ageing processes were applied to single lap joints (SLJs) of two polypropylene substrates in order to replicate the least favourable environmental conditions in automotive usage.

International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives

Peak aerosol particulate levels, at all sites, were experienced at night-time, when atmospheric conditions were least favourable to dispersion of air pollutants.

Atmospheric Environment

The Tory spin is that these urban polls were the least favourable for them in the electoral cycle, and that their results in cities reached their high tide in opposition.

The Guardian - Opinion

results also indicate that the formation of dimethylene ether linkages is least favourable at pH 9 and most favourable at pH 12 among the three pH values 7, 9 and 12.

Polymer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "least favourable" with a clear explanation of why the situation is undesirable. For example, "The least favourable outcome is a significant budget deficit due to increased operating costs."

Common error

Avoid using "least favourable" when a simple negative adjective would suffice. Instead of saying "This option is the least favourable", consider "This option is undesirable" if there are no other options being compared.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "least favourable" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate the option or situation that is the least desirable or most disadvantageous. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is commonly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

26%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "least favourable" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe the most undesirable option or scenario in a given context. It is considered grammatically correct and is frequently used across various domains, including science, news, and business. As Ludwig AI confirms, "least favourable" effectively conveys a negative evaluation or judgment. When using this phrase, it's important to maintain an appropriate tone and provide clear explanations of why the situation is undesirable. While suitable for formal settings, consider more informal alternatives like "not great" in casual conversations. Remember, "least favourable" indicates the absolute worst option, differing from "less favourable", which simply indicates a less desirable option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most disadvantageous

This alternative emphasizes the lack of advantage in a situation.

most unfavorable

This alternative is a direct synonym, simply replacing 'favourable' with 'unfavorable'.

worst-case scenario

This alternative describes a situation with the poorest possible outcome.

least desirable

This alternative focuses on the lack of desirability of a particular outcome or situation.

least advantageous

Similar to 'most disadvantageous', but with a slightly different nuance, stressing the absence of advantages.

most detrimental

This alternative highlights the damaging or harmful aspect of a situation.

least promising

This alternative suggests a lack of potential or hopefulness.

most adverse

This alternative emphasizes the negative and opposing nature of the situation.

the pits

This is an informal phrase expressing the worst possible condition.

bottom of the barrel

This idiom describes the lowest quality or least desirable option available.

FAQs

How can I use "least favourable" in a sentence?

You can use "least favourable" to describe the worst or most undesirable option in a given situation. For example: "Among the proposed solutions, the approach requiring significant budget cuts is the "least favourable"."

What are some alternatives to saying "least favourable"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "most unfavorable", "most disadvantageous", or "worst-case scenario".

Is "least favourable" formal or informal?

"Least favourable" is generally considered a neutral to formal expression. For more informal contexts, you might consider alternatives like "not great" or "the worst".

What's the difference between "least favourable" and "less favourable"?

"Least favourable" indicates the absolute worst option among a set, while "less favourable" simply means that one option is worse than another, but not necessarily the worst overall.