As an adjective, differential describes a difference or variation between things, especially in amount, rate, or treatment. As a noun, it can mean that difference itself, or in math and engineering, a specific tool or concept related to change.
From Medieval Latin "differentia" (difference) plus the suffix "-al" meaning "relating to." It became common in technical and mathematical contexts in the 17th–19th centuries.
In math and physics, a differential zooms in on tiny changes—almost like taking a microscope to motion or growth. In everyday life, when people talk about a "pay differential," they’re treating salary gaps like measurable, technical differences too.
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