preferential

adjective

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

1

: showing preference

preferential treatment

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

preferentially

ˌpre-fə-ˈren(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of preferential in a Sentence

powerful people who demand preferential treatment from politicians

Recent Examples on the Web

These policies include preferential treatment for the Bumiputera, including priority consideration for public university spaces and government jobs, and discounts for business licenses. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026

City staff maintained there was no preferential treatment and the permitting decision came down to the neighboring business applying for its permits in a timely manner. —Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026

Shah also said Maxwell appeared to experience preferential treatment inside the facility. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026

Prosecutors say the loan payments were routed through the government’s preferential currency-exchange system, producing windfall profits. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for preferential

• consequential
• deferential
• evidential
• existential
• exponential
• influential
• nonessential
• penitential
• precedential
• presidential
• providential
• referential

Kids Definition

preferential

adjective

pref·​er·​en·​tial ˌpref-ə-ˈren-chəl 

1

: of or relating to preference

2

: showing preference

preferential treatment

3

: creating or using preference in trading

4

: permitting the showing of order of preference (as of candidates in an election)

a preferential ballot

preferentially

-ˈrench-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

preferential

adjective

pref·​e·​ren·​tial ˌpre-fə-ˈren-chəl 

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