Word Study
preferential
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Adjective preferential has 1 sense
- preferential(s = adj.all) discriminatory - manifesting partiality; "a discriminatory tax"; "preferential tariff rates"; "preferential treatment"; "a preferential shop gives priority or advantage to union members in hiring or promoting" Derived form noun preference2
CIDE DICTIONARY
preferential, a.
Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
preferential, adj.
1 of or involving preference (preferential treatment).
2 giving or receiving a favour.
3 Commerce (of a tariff etc.) favouring particular countries.
4 (of voting) in which the voter puts candidates in order of preference.
1 of or involving preference (preferential treatment).
2 giving or receiving a favour.
3 Commerce (of a tariff etc.) favouring particular countries.
4 (of voting) in which the voter puts candidates in order of preference.
Derivative
preferentially adv.
Etymology
as PREFERENCE, after differential
ROGET THESAURUS
preferential
Choice
N choice, option, discretion, preoption, alternative, dilemma, embarras de choix, adoption, cooptation, novation, decision, election, political election (politics), selection, excerption, gleaning, eclecticism, excerpta, gleanings, cuttings, scissors and paste, pick, preference, prelation, opinion poll, survey, predilection, optional, discretional, eclectic, choosing, preferential, chosen, choice, optionally, at pleasure, either the one or the other, or at the option of, whether or not, once and for all, for one's money, by choice, by preference, in preference, rather, before.
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