preferential — pref‧e‧ren‧tial [ˌprefəˈrenʆl◂] adjective [only before a noun] preferential treatment, a preferential rate etc is deliberately more favourable in order to give an advantage to particular people, organizations etc: • Norway develops domestic oil… … Financial and business terms
preferential — pref·e·ren·tial /ˌpre fə ren chəl/ adj 1: of or constituting a preference a preferential transfer 2: giving preference to union members esp. in hiring a preferential shop 3: showing preference these creditors may obtain preferential … Law dictionary
Preferential — Pref er*en tial, a. Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
preferential — [pref΄ər en′shəl] adj. [ML praeferentia (see PREFERENCE) + AL] 1. of, having, giving, or receiving preference 2. offering or allowing a preference [a preferential ballot ] ☆ 3. designating a union shop which gives preference, as by contract, to… … English World dictionary
preferential — 1849, from M.L. praeferentia, from L. praeferre (see PREFER (Cf. prefer)) + AL (Cf. al) (1) … Etymology dictionary
preferential — ► ADJECTIVE 1) of or involving preference or partiality. 2) (of a creditor) having a claim for repayment which will be met before those of other creditors. DERIVATIVES preferentially adverb … English terms dictionary
preferential — adjective Date: 1849 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… … New Collegiate Dictionary
preferential — preferentialism, n. preferentialist, n. preferentially, adv. /pref euh ren sheuhl/, adj. 1. of, pertaining to, or of the nature of preference: preferential policies. 2. showing or giving preference: a preferential hiring system. 3. receiving or… … Universalium
preferential — pref|e|ren|tial [ˌprefəˈrenʃəl] adj [only before noun] preferential treatment, rates etc are deliberately different in order to give an advantage to particular people ▪ preferential credit terms for reliable borrowers >preferentially adv … Dictionary of contemporary English
preferential — pref|er|en|tial [ ,prefə renʃl ] adjective giving one person or group an advantage over others: preferential treatment: Europe has given Caribbean banana growers preferential treatment for more than 20 years. ╾ pref|er|en|tial|ly adverb … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
