Other forms: preferments
The noun preferment is a kind of promotion, like getting a better position or moving up the ranks at work. Preferment also means the act of liking one thing more than another.
The meaning of this noun as "promotion" comes from the original definition of prefer, "to advance in rank or fortune." Preferment goes to the hardest workers. Preferment can also be to prefer one thing over another. Good teachers work hard not to show preferment for some students over others, even if they secretly have favorites. In the kitchen, a preferment (also pre-ferment) is a bread starter.