Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Preferential \Pref`er*en"tial\, a. Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
a. 1 Of or relating to the showing or giving of preference. 2 Of or relating to a vote system in which the voters are allowed to indicate on their ballots their preference (usually their first and second choices) between two or more candidates, so that if no candidate receives a majority of first choices the one receiving the greatest number of first and second choices together is the winner.
WordNet
adj. manifesting partiality; "a discriminatory tax"; "preferential tariff rates"; "preferential treatment"; "a preferential shop gives priority or advantage to union members in hiring or promoting" [syn: discriminatory]
Wikipedia
Usage examples of "preferential".
I expect some people are going to insist on trying to show you preferential treatment, whatever you want.
Since the warehouse incident we have all come to agree that working together to oppose the Empire is preferential to each going our own ways.
There are probably a lot more situational than preferential child molesters, although a pedophile who molests will likely molest far more children over the course of his lifetime because that is where his primary sexual urges he.
Ken Lanning outlines three types of preferential molester, based on the different but predictable behavior patterns they exhibit: seduction, introverted, and sadistic.
The most horrifying and physically dangerous preferential child molester, though, is the sadistic type.
The biggest problem with that argument, though, is that a preferential child molester is not going to stop being attracted to children.
Recognizable, measurable Talent meant preferential schooling, and often grants-in-aid for the entire family.
Hispanics would be given all the most important posts on a preferential basis.
Spaceplanes were on their way out, and Kulu was using its technological prowess to devastating political effect, granting preferential licence production to the companies of allied star systems.
It is through natural selection, the preferential survival and replication of organisms that are by accident better adapted to their environments, that the elegance and beauty of contemporary life forms have emerged.
On the other hand, at least some of this might be covered in the form of preferential trade accommodations, debt relief, commercial credits, loan guarantees, or agricultural donations.
Even if the race discrimination is designed to discriminate in favor of historic victims amply deserving of preferential treatment, it is still discrimination.
Meanwhile, members of the elite, who continued to mouth slogans about egalitarianism, socialism, and Arab nationalism, were perpetuating their own privileges, enjoying such benefits as tax-free imports, preferential housing, and special rights to travel.
And Sacred Sun help the quartermaster I ever apprehend cadging bribes for preferential issuance of stores!
Channel 75, and Nadine Furst in particular, is receiving preferential treatment in this investigation.