preferential
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or of the nature of preference.
preferential policies.
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showing or giving preference.
a preferential hiring system.
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receiving or enjoying preference, as a country in trade relations; favored.
adjective
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showing or resulting from preference
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giving, receiving, or originating from preference in international trade
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of preferential
1840–50; < Medieval Latin praeferenti ( a ) preference + -al 1
Explanation
Something that's preferential gives one person or group a big advantage over others. If your soccer coach never makes you sit on the bench and always hands you the first Gatorade, she gives you preferential treatment. Giving preferential treatment or having a preferential attitude shows that you are partial to one person or group of people. And if you act in a preferential way, it gives the person you prefer an advantage over everyone else. Preferential treatment could include giving one party guest the first pick of party favors, or a state government giving one school district more money than other schools.
Vocabulary lists containing preferential
Unequal: A Story of America
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Novel Study: Long Walk to Freedom, Parts Eight–Eleven
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Signatory institutions, the administration pledged, would get preferential tax breaks and fast-track access to loans, grants, contracts and research funding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
The pressure could intensify as Bangladesh is set to lose the duty-free preferential market access it enjoys in Europe and other countries because its status as a least-developed country is scheduled to expire in 2029.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
"If Bangladesh fails to strike free-trade agreements after the end of the preferential trade regime, the country may risk losing competitiveness," said Dhaka University professor Selim Raihan.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
"The US felt that there is need for there to be a preferential treatment in the use of critical minerals. And the framework was to reflect that," he added.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
“I don’t want them to think I’ll have preferential treatment or opportunity.”
From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
