State different preference (5)
I believe the answer is:
taste
'preference' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'state different' is the wordplay.
'different' indicates an anagram.
'state' with letters rearranged gives 'TASTE'.
(Other definitions for taste that I've seen before include "Refinement or flavour" , "gains experience" , "Small sample of food" , "Sample, savour" , "Preference" .)