ENGLISH
REFERENCE

preferential

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌpɹɛfɝˈɛnʃəɫ// UK //pɹˌɛfəɹˈɛnʃəl// pref·er·en·tial

adj. giving or receiving an advantage that others do not get. You use this to describe special treatment that is better than the standard level.

adj. giving or showing an advantage to a particular person or group. Often used in legal, economic, or administrative contexts to describe treatment that is more favourable than the norm.


SIMPLE

The bank offers preferential interest rates to its loyal customers.

CONTEXTUAL

Under the new trade agreement, local manufacturers receive preferential access to the regional market.

COMPLEX

Critics argued that the tax reform provided preferential treatment to high-income earners while failing to address the systemic inequalities faced by the working class.

Synonyms
Origin

From Medieval Latin preferentia + -al.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; frequently collocates with 'treatment', 'rates', or 'access'.

Pitfall

preferential than otherspreferential treatment over othersPreferential is not a comparative adjective like 'better'; it describes a type of treatment and does not take 'than'.

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