adjective
differential
dih-fuh-RUHN-shuh
adjective
1
Relating to or based on a difference between things.
"The company offers differential pricing depending on the customer’s location."
noun
1
The gear system in a vehicle that allows the wheels to turn at different speeds when cornering.
"The mechanic replaced the worn differential on the truck."
2
A measurable difference between two related quantities, such as wages or interest rates.
"There’s a noticeable wage differential between the two regions."
How to Use Differential
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething based on a measurable difference — used for pricing, wages, or in engineering for the part of a car that lets wheels spin at different rates.
Common pairings
wage differential
differential pricing
a car’s differential
Word Forms
more differential comparative, differentials plural, most differential superlative
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The company offers _____ pricing depending on the customer’s location.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin differentialis, built from differentia, "a difference."