preferential

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adjective pref·er·en·tial \ ˌpre-fə-ˈren(t)-shəl \

Definition of preferential

1 :showing preference

2 :employing or creating a preference in trade relations

3 :designed to permit expression of preference among candidates

a preferential primary

4 :giving preference especially in hiring to union members

a preferential shop

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preferentially

play \-ˈren(t)-sh(ə-)lē\ adverb

See preferential defined for English-language learners

See preferential defined for kids

Examples of preferential in a Sentence

powerful people who demand preferential treatment from politicians

Recent Examples of preferential from the Web

Hope that foreign job seekers would not get preferential treatment.

— Cincinnati.com, "Column: A thing called hope," 30 Aug. 2017
And for me, the preferential option for the poor, which is something that's a key tenet of Catholic faith, that means upward mobility, that means economic growth, that means equality of opportunity.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "A Catholic Nun Schooled Paul Ryan in Humility Last Night," 22 Aug. 2017
That allows for four guests at no additional cost, plus free parking, car detailing, pre-flight massages, in-suite manicures, haircuts, and preferential pricing XOJET charters.

— adam popescu, Vanities, "Inside the Private, Celebrity-Friendly Terminal at LAX," 16 Aug. 2017
The fact is the offspring of wealthy Asian and white folks — anyone with a lot of money — will get preferential treatment.

— david harsanyi, National Review, "Get Government Out of Discrimination in College Admissions," 4 Aug. 2017
The Trump brand has been provisionally awarded trademark protections in China, raising concerns that the president’s licensing plays (as well as his daughter’s eponymous fashion brand) are receiving preferential treatment abroad.

— emily jane fox, The Hive, "Jared Kushner’s White House Role Is Still Being Used to Lure Foreign Investors," 21 July 2017
After the government took over Fannie and Freddie, their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, stamped out the preferential treatment.

— joe light, Bloomberg.com, "Fannie-Freddie Reform Might Hinge on Keeping Small Lenders Happy," 20 July 2017
In recent weeks, there have been reports that Rivers’ preferential treatment of son Austin Rivers — a Winter Park High School legend in his own right — is one of the things that drove away superstar point guard Chris Paul.

— mike bianchi, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Is Doc Rivers going down the same nepotism road as Bobby Bowden?," 19 July 2017
The preferential admissions treatment given to descendants is viewed as similar to the consideration given to the children of Georgetown alumni, the university spokesperson said.

— wilborn p. nobles iii, NOLA.com, "Georgetown enslaved her ancestors. Now she's an incoming student.," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'preferential.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of preferential

1849

PREFERENTIAL Defined for English Language Learners

preferential

play

adjective

Definition of preferential for English Language Learners

: giving an advantage to a particular person or group

Law Dictionary

preferential

play

adjective pref·e·ren·tial \ ˌpre-fə-ˈren-chəl \

legal Definition of preferential

1 :of or constituting a preference

a preferential transfer

2 :giving preference to union members especially in hiring

a preferential shop

3 :showing preference

these creditors may obtain preferential treatment

Learn More about preferential

See words that rhyme with preferential Spanish Central: Translation of preferential Nglish: Translation of preferential for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of preferential for Arabic speakers

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preferential

Definition of preferential

preferentially

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Recent Examples of preferential from the Web

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preferential

Definition of preferential for English Language Learners

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preferential

legal Definition of preferential

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preferential

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preferentially

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preferential

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preferential

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