preferential
adjective
pref·er·en·tial
ˌpre-fə-ˈren(t)-shəl 
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
Examples of preferential in a Sentence
powerful people who demand preferential treatment from politicians
Recent Examples on the Web
Experts suspect Georgescu’s online following was artificially inflated while officials hinted that he was given preferential treatment by TikTok.
—
Kelvin Chan and Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
However, questions have emerged over whether his popularity was genuinely earned or artificially amplified by external actors as EU officials hinted that he was given preferential treatment by TikTok.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
The truth, of course, is that he was given preferential treatment because of politics.
—The Editors, National Review, 2 Dec. 2024
One is the preferential voting system, which requires voters to rank best picture choices and generally has enabled smaller films like Moonlight, which presumably draw a broad consensus, to take the big prize.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preferential 
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Kelvin Chan and Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
However, questions have emerged over whether his popularity was genuinely earned or artificially amplified by external actors as EU officials hinted that he was given preferential treatment by TikTok.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
The truth, of course, is that he was given preferential treatment because of politics.
—The Editors, National Review, 2 Dec. 2024
One is the preferential voting system, which requires voters to rank best picture choices and generally has enabled smaller films like Moonlight, which presumably draw a broad consensus, to take the big prize.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preferential
Dictionary Entries Near preferential
Cite this Entry
“Preferential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preferential. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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