prerogative

See also: prérogative

English

Alternative forms

• prærogative (obsolete)

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman prerogative (noun), from Latin praerogātīva (“previous verdict; claim, privilege”), noun use of the feminine singular of praerogātīvus (“having first vote; privileged”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɹɪˈɹɒɡ.ə.tɪv/
• IPA^(key): /pɹəˈɹɑɡ.ə.tɪv/, /pəˈɹɑ.ɡə.tɪv/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

prerogative (plural prerogatives)

1. A hereditary or official right or privilege.
2. A right, or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc, especially such a power to make a decision or judgement.
3. A right, generally, but especially when due to one's position or role.
   • 2002, Patrick Robinson, The Shark Mutiny, page 48:

     "Ah, that's your prerogative as an Intelligence officer, Jimmy. But it's been your prerogative for weeks, months, and nothing has happened, as I told you […] "

   • 2004, Joel Osteen, Your best life now: 7 steps to living at your full potential, page 92:

     If you want to wear your hair a certain way, that's your prerogative. You don't have to check with all your friends to make sure it's okay.

   • 2005, Tracy Hogg, Melinda Blau, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate, page 56:

     If you choose another approach — that's your prerogative. But the problem is that parents often don't realize they're making the choice […]

4. A property, attribute or ability which gives one a superiority or advantage over others; an inherent advantage or privilege; a talent.

Translations

hereditary or official right or privilege

• Danish: prærogativ n, privilegium n, privilegie n
• Finnish: etuoikeus (fi)
• French: prérogative (fr) f
• German: Prärogative (de) f, Bevorrechtung f, Privileg (de) n, Vorrecht (de) n, Anrecht (de) n
• Greek:

  Ancient: γέρας n (géras)

• Hungarian: kiváltság (hu)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: privilegio (it) m, prerogativa (it) f
• Portuguese: prerrogativa (pt) f
• Russian: прерогати́ва (ru) f (prerogatíva), привиле́гия (ru) f (privilégija)
• Scottish Gaelic: còir-dhlighe f
• Spanish: prerrogativa (es) f

right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.

• Catalan: prerrogativa (ca) f
• Danish: prærogativ n (constitutional law)
• Finnish: valtaoikeus
• French: prérogative (fr) f
• German: Vorrecht (de) n, Prärogative (de) f, Regal (de) n
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Hungarian: előjog (hu)
• Italian: appannaggio (it) m, prerogativa (it) f, diritto (it) m
• Portuguese: prerrogativa (pt) f
• Russian: прерогати́ва (ru) f (prerogatíva), исключи́тельное пра́во n (isključítelʹnoje právo)
• Spanish: prerrogativa (es) f

right, generally — see right

inherent advantage or privilege

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 特权 (zh) (tèquán)

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Finnish: kyky (fi), lahjakkuus (fi)
• German: Talent (de) n, Gabe (de) f, Begabung (de) f

Adjective

prerogative (comparative more prerogative, superlative most prerogative)

1. Having a hereditary or official right or privilege.

Translations

having a hereditary or official right or privilege

• Finnish: etuoikeutettu (fi)
• German: privilegiert (de), bevorrechtet (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Hungarian: kiváltságos (hu)
• Spanish: prerrogativa (es)

References

• John A. Simpson and Edmund S. C. Weiner, editors (1989), “prerogative”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, →ISBN.

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Italian

Noun

prerogative f pl

1. plural of prerogativa

Anagrams

• riporgevate

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Middle French

Etymology

Either inherited from Old French prerogative or independently borrowed from Latin praerogativa.

Noun

prerogative f (plural prerogatives)

1. prerogative; privilege

Adjective

prerogative f sg

1. feminine singular of prerogatif

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Old French

Etymology

First known attestation 1234 by Huon de Meri in Le tornoiement de l'Antéchrist. Borrowed from Latin praerogātīva (“previous verdict; claim, privilege”).

Noun

prerogative oblique singular, f (oblique plural prerogatives, nominative singular prerogative, nominative plural prerogatives)

1. prerogative (right or privilege)