adj · noun · 19 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
[dɪfəˈɹənʃəɫ]
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:D IH2 F ER0 EH1 N SH AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or pertaining to a difference.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
differential characteristics
I saved disk space by taking differential backups, which only stored the data that had changed.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Dependent on, or making a difference; distinctive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Having differences in speed or direction of motion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Of or pertaining to differentiation or the differential calculus.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The differential gear in an automobile, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A qualitative or quantitative difference between similar or comparable things.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
One of two coils of conducting wire so related to one another or to a magnet or armature common to both, that one coil produces polar action contrary to that of the other.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
A form of conductor used for dividing and distributing the current to a series of electric lamps so as to maintain equal action in all.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
A quantity representing an infinitesimal change in a variable, now only used as a heuristic aid except in nonstandard analysis but considered rigorous until the 20th century; a fluxion in Newtonian calculus, now usually written in Leibniz's notation as operatorname d!x.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: calculus, mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
A function giving the change in the linear approximation of f at a point x over a small interval Δx or operatorname d!x, the function being called the differential of f and denoted operatorname d!f(x,Δx), operatorname d!f(x), or simply operatorname d!f.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: calculus, mathematics, sciences
Examples
If f(x)#61;x2, the differential of f is the function #92;operatorname#123;d#125;#92;#33;f(x,#92;Deltax)#61;f'(x)#92;Deltax#61;2x#92;Deltax.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
A function giving the change in the linear approximation of f at a point x over a small interval Δx or operatorname d!x, the function being called the differential of f and denoted operatorname d!f(x,Δx), operatorname d!f(x), or simply operatorname d!f.
Any of several generalizations of this concept to functions of several variables or to higher orders: the partial differential, total differential, Gateaux differential, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: calculus, mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
noun
Meaning 12
The Jacobian matrix of a function of several variables.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
The pushforward or total derivative of φ: a linear map from the tangent space at a point x in φ's domain to the tangent space at φ(x) which is, in a technical sense, the best linear approximation of φ at x; denoted operatorname d!φx.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: differential geometry
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
Any of several generalizations of the concept(s) above: e.g. the Kähler differential in the setting of schemes, the quadratic differential in the theory of Riemann surfaces, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
adjective
Meaning 15
relating to or showing a difference
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
differential treatment
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
adjective
Meaning 16
involving or containing one or more derivatives
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
differential equation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
noun
Meaning 17
a bevel gear that permits rotation of two shafts at different speeds; used on the rear axle of automobiles to allow wheels to rotate at different speeds on curves
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: differential gear
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: bevel gear, pinion and crown wheel, pinion and ring gear
18
noun
Meaning 18
a quality that differentiates between similar things
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: difference
19
noun
Meaning 19
the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: derived function, derivative, differential coefficient, first derivative
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh1 Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Proto-Indo-European *bher- Proto-Indo-European *bhéreti Proto-Italic *ferō Latin ferō Latin differō Latin differēns Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin differentia Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin differentiālislbor. English differential Learned borrowing from Latin differentiālis. By surface analysis, different + -ial.
Across languages
Translations
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
отличителен
(otličitelen)
— relating to a difference
Danish:
forskels-
— relating to a difference
Finnish:
erityinen
— relating to a difference
Finnish:
erityis-
— relating to a difference
Finnish:
erotus-
— relating to a difference
Greek:
διαφορικός
(diaforikós)
— relating to a difference
Hindi:
अवकल
(avkal)
— relating to a difference
Polish:
różnicowy
— relating to a difference
Spanish:
diferencial
— relating to a difference
Swedish:
differens-
— relating to a difference
Bulgarian:
разграничителен
(razgraničitelen)
— dependent on, distinctive
Danish:
differentieret
— dependent on, distinctive
Finnish:
riippuvainen
— dependent on, distinctive
Finnish:
erityinen
— dependent on, distinctive
Finnish:
erityis-
— dependent on, distinctive
Greek:
διάφορος
(diáforos)
— dependent on, distinctive
Finnish:
erinopeuksinen
— having differences in speed or direction
Finnish:
erisuuntainen
— having differences in speed or direction
Bulgarian:
диференциален
(diferencialen)
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Czech:
diferenciální
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Danish:
differential-
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Finnish:
differentiaali-
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
French:
différentiel
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
German:
Differenzial
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Greek:
διαφορικός
(diaforikós)
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Hindi:
अवकल
(avkal)
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Hungarian:
differenciál
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Ido:
diferenciala
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Kazakh:
дифференциалдық
(differensialdyq)
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Polish:
różniczkowy
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Portuguese:
diferencial
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Russian:
дифференциа́льный
(differenciálʹnyj)
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Spanish:
diferencial
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Swedish:
differential-
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Tagalog:
tingirin
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Turkish:
diferansiyel
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Vietnamese:
vi phân
— relating to differentiation or differential calculus
Danish:
forskel
— difference between similar or comparable things
Finnish:
ero
— difference between similar or comparable things
Greek:
διαφορικό
(diaforikó)
— difference between similar or comparable things
Indonesian:
perbedaan
— difference between similar or comparable things
Māori:
pārōnaki
— difference between similar or comparable things