differentiator

American  

[dif-uh-ren-shee-ey-ter] / ˌdɪf əˈrɛn ʃiˌeɪ tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that differentiates.

2. Computers. an electronic device whose output signal is proportional to the derivative of its input signal.

3. Electricity, Electronics. a transducer or circuit differentiatorcircuit whose output is proportional to the rate of change of the input signal.

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Etymology

Origin of differentiator

First recorded in 1885–90; differentiate + -or ²

Example Sentences

And in a market where AI capability is rapidly becoming the primary differentiator for hardware, software and services, being late isn’t fashionable — it’s existential.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

"The major differentiator was starting with a clean sheet of paper. That was the secret sauce," explains Mr Hogan.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

For Nebius, Liani believes the company’s distributed virtualization layer, which connects GPUs across multiple locations to create a unified cluster, is a “structural long-term differentiator and one of the company’s most defensible advantages.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

It added a strengthened digital presence anchored by CarMax’s physical store footprint should be a differentiator in the industry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Besides the action of the thyroid as energizer, lubricator, and growth catalyzer, it has a remarkable power as a differentiator of tissues.

From The Glands Regulating Personality by Berman, Louis, M.D.