preferential

[ pref-uh-ren-shuhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of preference:

   preferential policies.

2. showing or giving preference:

   a preferential hiring system.

3. receiving or enjoying preference, as a country in trade relations; favored.

preferential

/ ˌprɛfəˌrɛnʃɪˈælɪtɪ; ˌprɛfəˈrɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. showing or resulting from preference
2. giving, receiving, or originating from preference in international trade

Derived Forms

• ˌpreferˈentially, adverb
• preferentiality, noun

Other Words From

• prefer·ential·ism noun
• prefer·ential·ist noun
• prefer·ential·ly adverb
• nonpref·er·ential adjective
• nonpref·er·ential·ly adverb
• nonpref·er·ential·ism noun
• quasi-prefer·ential adjective
• quasi-prefer·ential·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of preferential¹

1840–50; < Medieval Latin praeferenti ( a ) preference + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The division’s staffers are supposed to adhere to a strict ethics code and forgo any public partisan activities because such actions could imply preferential treatment for a candidate or party and jeopardize the commission’s credibility.

From ProPublica

It offered legacy admissions in the form of preferential or priority status to descendants of the sold slaves and, in 2019, promised to raise $400,000 per year for their benefit.

From Ozy

Instead, it placed quotas on immigrants from the Western Hemisphere and instituted a preferential system that prioritized immigrants of the professional class and those with specialized skills.

From Eater

There are complaints of preferential treatment of major arts groups — including Arena Stage, Studio Theatre and the National Building Museum — at the expense of smaller groups and organizations of color.

From Washington Post

They’ve extended that to say everyone who we work with that is like us will get preferential treatment.

From Digiday

Hall even made it clear that his problem is less with the preferential admissions, but with the lack of transparency.

From The Daily Beast

Either way, part of the tragedy and poignancy of polio is its preferential spread to babies and toddlers.

From The Daily Beast

The preferential ballot will definitely favor Gravity, which I felt was a superior film anyway.

From The Daily Beast

“Crony capitalism,” for example, typically refers to preferential relationships between politicians and business interests.

From The Daily Beast

Jews enjoy preferential access to land ownership throughout most of the country.

From The Daily Beast

In 1894 a second Conference was held at Ottawa, mainly to discuss intercolonial preferential trade.

From Project Gutenberg

The other Premiers agreed to consider whether Canada's preferential tariff policy could be followed.

From Project Gutenberg

This is the weak point in Preferential Voting; any small section can ensure the rejection of a general favourite.

From Project Gutenberg

As for the idea of the preferential Union shop, it had undoubtedly been gaining ground.

From Project Gutenberg

They almost mobbed the East Side leaders, with their voluble questioning about the preferential Union shop.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• advantageous
• preferred