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

Other Word Forms

• preferentialism noun
• preferentialist noun
• preferentially adverb
• nonpreferential adjective
• nonpreferentially adverb
• nonpreferentialism noun
• quasi-preferential adjective
• quasi-preferentially adverb
• preferentiality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of preferential¹

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

Example Sentences

In those cases, judges said undocumented immigrants were not receiving preferential treatment because of their immigration status but because they attended and graduated from California schools.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Lloyd’s employees complained to its governing council, akin to a board of directors, about the perceived preferential treatment of Clement, people familiar with Lloyds said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Federal regulations forbid conflicts of interest in contracting and require that the process be conducted “with complete impartiality and with preferential treatment for none.”

Read more on Salon

The policy would give tech firms including Microsoft and Amazon preferential access to chips at their data centers around the world.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

However, campaigners say this would be preferential as the Dean Bridge is already used by vehicles.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• advantageous 
• preferred www.thesaurus.com