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.

---

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

---

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

Emoluments, in constitutional law, are “any perquisite, advantage, or profit arising from the possession of an office.”

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2024

"A gas scarcity situation" is the perquisite to impose the levy, which the government has already determined with falling Russian gas flows, the draft law showed.

From Reuters • Aug. 3, 2022

That’s because of the high degree of location and schedule flexibility provided by working from home, which has become the most desired perquisite for the large majority of workers.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 11, 2022

James Stephens, from Biteback publishing, also points out that power is not a perquisite for writing a good memoir.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2020

“It’s the one perquisite allowed to the host, isn’t it, Frank?”

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Related Words

• perk