differential

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.

“Differential” is pronounced dih-fuh-RUHN-shuh ([dɪfəˈɹənʃəɫ] in IPA).

Here is “differential” used in a sentence: “The company offers differential pricing depending on the customer’s location.”

Depending on how it is used, “differential” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “differential” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin differentialis, built from differentia, "a difference.".

“Differential” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Differential” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to or based on a difference between things.

"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.

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.

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."