'male-preferring' is a modern English compound formed from 'male' + the present participle 'preferring' of 'prefer'. 'prefer' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'praeferre', where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'ferre' meant 'to carry'.

'prefer' passed into English via Old French 'preferer' (from Latin 'praeferre') and became Middle English 'preferen'/'preferen' before modern 'prefer'; 'male' came into English from Old French 'masle', from Latin 'masculus', and the compound 'male-preferring' is a recent formation by combining the noun 'male' with the present participle of 'prefer' to describe a tendency.

The components originally meant 'male' and 'to place before or favor'; combined in modern usage they mean 'showing preference for males' (i.e., favoring males over females).