Preferable means better, and to be chosen if you can. Far preferable, preferable to the alternative, clearly preferable.
It takes to rather than than — preferable to the alternative — which is one of the commoner mistakes in careful writing. It already contains the comparison, so more preferable is redundant, though it is heard constantly. Note preference, preferential; and that preferable is stressed on the first syllable in careful British speech, which surprises people.
1adjectivepreferableBetter, and to be chosen if you can.
“For long journeys, the train is preferable to driving.”
preferable is a quality of being better.
Prefer plus -able, from Latin praeferre, to carry before — prae plus ferre, to bear. Offer, refer and transfer come from the same carrying.
Middle French
preferable
English, today
preferable
From prefer + -able, probably after Middle French preferable. Compare preference, preferential, etc.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA