perquisite

[ pur-kwuh-zit ]
See synonyms for: perquisiteperquisites on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. an incidental payment, benefit, privilege, or advantage over and above regular income, salary, or wages: Among the president's perquisites were free use of a company car and paid membership in a country club.

  2. a gratuity or tip.

  1. something demanded or due as a particular privilege: homage that was once the perquisite of royalty.

Origin of perquisite

1
1400–50; late Middle English <Medieval Latin perquīsītum something acquired, noun use of neuter of Latin perquīsītus (past participle of perquīrere to search everywhere for, inquire diligently). See per-, inquisitive

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use perquisite in a sentence

  • If credit be given, the merchant is responsible, and receives a perquisite of five per cent on all sales.

British Dictionary definitions for perquisite

perquisite

/ (ˈpɜːkwɪzɪt) /


noun
  1. an incidental benefit gained from a certain type of employment, such as the use of a company car

  2. a customary benefit received in addition to a regular income

  1. a customary tip

  2. something expected or regarded as an exclusive right

Origin of perquisite

1
C15: from Medieval Latin perquīsītum an acquired possession, from Latin perquīrere to seek earnestly for something, from per- (thoroughly) + quaerere to ask for, seek
  • Often (informal) shortened to: perk

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012