Differential

C1 16+

Pronunciation: /dɪˌfəˈrɛnʃəl/

Definitions of differential

noun a difference between amounts of things; a distinction between similar things

Example Sentences

A1 The differential between the two prices is significant.

A2 She couldn't understand the differential in pay between her and her coworker.

B1 The price differential between the two products is due to the quality of materials used.

B2 The wage differential between different professions can be quite large.

C1 Economists study differentials in income distribution to understand societal trends.

C2 The differential in performance between the two teams was evident throughout the game.

adjective relating to or showing a difference

Example Sentences

A1 The differential pricing for the tickets confused some customers.

A2 The mechanic explained that the car's differential needed to be replaced.

B1 The students were given a differential equation to solve for homework.

B2 The company implemented a new policy to address differential treatment of employees.

C1 The researcher conducted a differential analysis of the data to identify patterns.

C2 The expert provided a differential diagnosis for the patient's symptoms.

Examples of differential in a Sentence

formal The differential between the two interest rates is quite significant.

informal There's a big differential in prices between the two stores.

slang The price differential is like night and day.

figurative The differential in their personalities is what makes them such a dynamic duo.

Grammatical Forms of differential

past tense

differentiated

plural

differentials

comparative

more differential

superlative

most differential

present tense

differentials

future tense

will differentiate

perfect tense

have differentiated

continuous tense

is differentiating

singular

differential

positive degree

differential

infinitive

differentiate

gerund

differentiating

participle

differentiated

Origin and Evolution of differential

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'differential' originated from the Latin word 'differentia', meaning difference or distinction.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in mathematics to describe the difference between two quantities, the term 'differential' has evolved to also refer to a gear mechanism in vehicles and a type of medical diagnosis based on the comparison of symptoms.