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preferential

preferential

35 6.0
To give an advantage to one person or group over others
  • adjective
  • /prɪˈfɛrənʃəl/
translation icon : preferencial
  • Under the new agreement, companies in the area will receive preferential tax rates to encourage investment.
  • preferential treatment
  • give preferential treatment
  • preferential access

Breeders shouldn't get preferential treatment over non breeders.

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Examples

  • Breeders shouldn't get preferential treatment over non breeders.

  • China is seeking bilateral preferential trade arrangements with several other states, and so is the United States.

    Academic text (2008)
  • And I thought I might have some preferential treatment, you know?

  • Nothing good could result if someone found out that she had been given preferential treatment.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The parking pass on the back of his car is preferential for doctors.

  • Beth, I am disappointed that you would expect preferential treatment.

  • There was a conflict involving giving preferential treatment to a friend... which they felt I handled badly.

  • There is no preferential treatment, only the fact that they are part of our dart team program.

  • Members of Greek organizations showed preferential responses towards Greek groups over academic or purely service organizations.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The documents purported to show George W. Bush received... ...preferential treatment during his years in the Texas Air National Guard.

Synonyms

preferred
vspreferential
8 2.8

Liked or chosen more than others

gives advantage or special treatment rather than just being chosen
favored
vspreferential
  • US
3.7

A person who gets better treatment and more benefits than others

is about showing support rather than giving extra treatment

Antonyms

218 3.6

Not supporting either side in a conflict

74 4.2

Not supporting one side and treating people fairly

How Favoring

discriminatory
  • Offensive
34 6.0
biased
91 4.0
preferential
35 6.0
neutral
218 3.6

Surface Forms

preferential positive

Morphology

preferential = preference (transparent) = prefer + ial

The adjective is a straightforward adjectival formation from 'preference'/'prefer' indicating showing or giving preference.

Etymology

Preferential comes from the simpler word prefer, which itself comes from the Latin parts pre- 'before' and ferre 'to carry'. Think of it as 'carrying someone before others' — putting them first — so preferential means giving special treatment or an advantage to someone.