adjective
Common
differential
dih-fuh-RUHN-shuh
Differential (adjective) means relating to or based on a difference between things. Example: “The company offers differential pricing depending on the customer’s location.”
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."
"A faulty differential makes a strange whining noise when the car turns a corner."
"Without a differential, the inner wheel would skid as the lorry went round the bend."
2
A measurable difference between two related quantities, such as wages or interest rates.
"There’s a noticeable wage differential between the two regions."
"The interest rate differential between the two banks made her switch her savings."
"Unions argued that the pay differential between managers and staff was too wide."
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- differentials
- Comparative
- more differential
- Superlative
- most differential
Fill the gap
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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."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for differential
See all rhymes for differential →Frequently asked questions
What does “differential” mean?
The word “differential” means relating to or based on a difference between things. In plain terms, something 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.
How do you pronounce “differential”?
“Differential” is pronounced dih-fuh-RUHN-shuh ([dɪfəˈɹənʃəɫ] in IPA).
How do you use “differential” in a sentence?
Here is “differential” used in a sentence: “The company offers differential pricing depending on the customer’s location.”
What part of speech is “differential”?
Depending on how it is used, “differential” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “differential” come from?
The word “differential” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin differentialis, built from differentia, "a difference.".
Is “differential” a common word?
“Differential” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “differential” have?
“Differential” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to or based on a difference between things.
What is the difference between "differential" and "difference"?
"Difference" is the general noun for any contrast between things, while "differential" is more technical and refers to a specific, measurable gap between two related quantities, such as a wage differential or interest rate differential. "Differential" is also used as an adjective and as the name of a mechanical part, uses "difference" does not share.
What does "differential" mean in a car?
In a vehicle, the differential is the gear system that lets the wheels on the same axle turn at different speeds, which is essential when cornering since the outer wheel travels farther than the inner one. Without it, tires would scrub and wear unevenly on turns.
How is "differential" used in economics or finance?
In finance, a "differential" refers to a measurable gap between two related figures, such as the difference between interest rates offered by two banks or wages paid for similar jobs. This is often called a "wage differential" or "rate differential."
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