perquisite

American  

[pur-kwuh-zit] / ˈpɜr kwə zɪt /

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.

3. something demanded or due as a particular privilege.

   homage that was once the perquisite of royalty.

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perquisite British  

/ 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

3. a customary tip

4. something expected or regarded as an exclusive right

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Etymology

Origin of perquisite

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

Explanation

Perquisites are the benefits or "perks" that come along with a job. Free air travel for air hostesses? Free company car for corporate execs? Free pork for politicians? That's right, they're all perquisites. Not to be confused with prerequisite, which happens about ninety-nine percent of the time. A prerequisite is something that must occur before something else can happen. A prerequisite of getting a job, for example, is passing the interview. Of course, for some people to take a particular job, a prerequisite is that there are suitable perquisites or privileges that come with a particular position.

Example Sentences

I was listening to a Dutch group called Pete Philly & Perquisite.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 25, 2010

If you at an Office solicit your Due, And would not have Matters neglected; You must quicken the Clerk with the Perquisite too, To do what his Duty directed.

From The Beggar's Opera by Gay, John

Dock-yards, on the Plunder and Peculation therein, 249-287 —— Fees to Officers one source of the Evil, 251 —— Frauds in receiving, detaining, and selling Stores, 253-259 —— The Perquisite of Chips, 256, 257, n.

From A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis Containing a Detail of the Various Crimes and Misdemeanors by which Public and Private Property and Security are, at Present, Injured and Endangered: and Suggesting Remedies for their Prevention by Colquhoun, Patrick

Perquisite indeed! her folly was her fault; for you have seen that they were not worth the taking.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 20, No. 563, August 25, 1832 by Various

The several Plates will be paid without any Deduction or Perquisite.

From Bygone Cumberland and Westmorland by Scott, Daniel

Related Words

• perk