adjective
Uncommon
preferential
PREHF-ur-ehn-shuhl
Preferential (adjective) means giving or showing favor to one person or group over others. Example: “Loyal customers get preferential treatment, including early access to sales.”
adjective
1
Giving or showing favor to one person or group over others.
"Loyal customers get preferential treatment, including early access to sales."
2
Relating to a voting system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference.
"Under preferential voting, second-choice votes are counted if no candidate wins a majority outright."
How to use preferential
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGiving special, favorable treatment — or, in elections, a system where voters rank their choices.
Common pairings
preferential treatment
preferential voting
preferential access
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more preferential
- Superlative
- most preferential
Fill the gap
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Loyal customers get _____ treatment, including early access to sales.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin preferentia plus the adjective-forming suffix -al.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for preferential
See all rhymes for preferential →Frequently asked questions
What does “preferential” mean?
The word “preferential” means giving or showing favor to one person or group over others. In plain terms, giving special, favorable treatment — or, in elections, a system where voters rank their choices.
How do you pronounce “preferential”?
“Preferential” is pronounced PREHF-ur-ehn-shuhl (/ˈpɹɛf.ɜː(ɹ)ˌɛn.ʃəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “preferential” in a sentence?
Here is “preferential” used in a sentence: “Loyal customers get preferential treatment, including early access to sales.”
What part of speech is “preferential”?
“Preferential” is an adjective.
Where does the word “preferential” come from?
The word “preferential” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin preferentia plus the adjective-forming suffix -al.
Is “preferential” a common word?
“Preferential” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “preferential” have?
“Preferential” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: giving or showing favor to one person or group over others.
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