preferential
/,prefə'renʃəl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Showing or giving an advantage to a particular person, group, or thing: "Preferential" describes a policy, treatment, or system that favors one party over others, often in an unfair or biased way.
- Involving or using a preference: It can refer to a choice or selection that prioritizes one option based on prior liking or advantage.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- The company was accused of giving preferential treatment to employees from certain universities.
- The two countries signed a trade agreement with preferential tariff rates for key goods.
- As a senior member, he had preferential access to the club's facilities.
Advanced Usage
"Preferential creditor": In law and finance, a creditor whose claim must be paid before the claims of other creditors if a debtor goes bankrupt.
- The tax authorities are often considered preferential creditors.
"Preferential voting": An electoral system where voters rank candidates in order of preference.
- The election used a preferential voting system to ensure the winner had broad support.
Variants and Related Words
Preferentially (adverb): In a way that gives an advantage or shows preference.
- Resources were allocated preferentially to the research department.
Preference (noun): A greater liking for one alternative over another or others.
- My preference is for tea over coffee.
Synonyms
- Advantageous: Involving or creating favorable circumstances.
- Favorable: Expressing approval or giving an advantage.
- Discriminatory (in the sense of showing bias): Making or showing an unfair distinction.
Related Phrases
Preferential treatment: The act of treating one person or group better than others.
- The whistleblower alleged preferential treatment in the promotion process.
Preferential tariff/duty: A reduced rate of tax imposed on imports from a particular country, as part of a trade agreement.
- Goods imported under the treaty are subject to a preferential duty.
Related Idioms
- "Get preferential treatment": To receive advantages or better treatment than others.
- Some customers seem to get preferential treatment because they spend more money.
Adjective
- manifesting partiality
- a discriminatory tax
- preferential tariff rates
- preferential treatment
- a preferential shop gives priority or advantage to union members in hiring or promoting