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
Many cities, like neighboring National City, have long had local preferential policies and more jurisdictions, such as San Jose, are adopting similar rules.
—
Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2024
Two years ago, Rep. Jamaal Bowman introduced a bill in Congress seeking to prohibit preferential admissions for legacy applicants at colleges — but a video recently unearthed by the Daily News shows two of his own children benefited from a version of that very system.
—Michael Gartland, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2024
The first, House Bill 604/Senate Bill 478 — the Families Serve Act of 2024 — allows private-sector employers to implement preferential hiring for spouses of active duty service members.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2024
Venezuela’s electoral council, which tallies the votes for all elections, is still dominated by Maduro’s allies; strict media censorship largely keeps opposition views off the air; and government loyalists continue to have preferential access to public employment and social programs.
—Francisco Rodríguez, Foreign Affairs, 1 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for preferential 
Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2024
Two years ago, Rep. Jamaal Bowman introduced a bill in Congress seeking to prohibit preferential admissions for legacy applicants at colleges — but a video recently unearthed by the Daily News shows two of his own children benefited from a version of that very system.
—Michael Gartland, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2024
The first, House Bill 604/Senate Bill 478 — the Families Serve Act of 2024 — allows private-sector employers to implement preferential hiring for spouses of active duty service members.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2024
Venezuela’s electoral council, which tallies the votes for all elections, is still dominated by Maduro’s allies; strict media censorship largely keeps opposition views off the air; and government loyalists continue to have preferential access to public employment and social programs.
—Francisco Rodríguez, Foreign Affairs, 1 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for preferential
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preferential.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near preferential
Cite this Entry
“Preferential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preferential. Accessed 15 Jul. 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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