Meaning & use
non-preferential
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounformalbusiness
Not giving special advantages or better treatment to a particular country, group, or person.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: non-preferential trade terms.
Patterns
- non-preferential treatment
- non-preferential trade
- non-preferential agreement
The two countries signed a non-preferential trade agreement that applies to all imports equally.
Under non-preferential rules, every supplier is treated the same way.
The company complained that the non-preferential tariff was still too high.
adjectivebefore a nounformal
Not showing a preference for one person or thing over another; neutral.
Grammar: Used before a noun, often in formal writing.
Patterns
- non-preferential treatment
- non-preferential basis
The committee promised non-preferential treatment for all applicants.
Decisions were made on a non-preferential basis.
Common combinations
- non-preferential trade
- Non-preferential trade rules apply to all members equally.
- non-preferential treatment
- The law requires non-preferential treatment of all citizens.
- non-preferential agreement
- They signed a non-preferential agreement with the union.
- on a non-preferential basis
- The grants are given on a non-preferential basis.
Synonyms and how they differ
- neutral
- Neutral is more general and can describe people or attitudes; non-preferential is more formal and often used in trade or law.
- impartial
- Impartial means fair and not favoring one side; non-preferential stresses that no special advantage is given.
- equal
- Equal means the same for everyone; non-preferential means not giving better treatment to some.
Opposites
Word family
- preferential adjective
- Giving special advantages to a particular person or group.
- preference noun
- A liking for one thing over another.
- preferentially adverb
- In a way that gives special treatment.
Commonly confused: non-preferential or preferential?
non-preferential vs preferential
Preferential means giving special advantages, while non-preferential means not giving them. The prefix non- reverses the meaning.
Practice
The new policy gives all companies the same access to the market. It is a ______ policy.
Choose one answer.
Non-preferential means not giving special treatment to any company. Preferential would mean some companies get advantages. Preferable means more desirable, and preferred means liked better, so neither fits the idea of equal treatment.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “non-preferential”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.