prerogative

[pri-rog-uh-tiv, puh-rog-]

noun

1. an exclusive right, privilege, etc., exercised by virtue of rank, office, or the like.

   the prerogatives of a senator.

2. a right, privilege, etc., limited to a specific person or to persons of a particular category.

   It was the teacher's prerogative to stop the discussion.

3. a power, immunity, or the like restricted to a sovereign government or its representative.

   The royal prerogative exempts the king from taxation.

4. Obsolete.,  precedence.

adjective

1. having or exercising a prerogative.

2. pertaining to, characteristic of, or existing by virtue of a prerogative.

prerogative

/ prɪˈrɒɡətɪv /

noun

1. an exclusive privilege or right exercised by a person or group of people holding a particular office or hereditary rank

2. any privilege or right

3. a power, privilege, or immunity restricted to a sovereign or sovereign government

adjective

1. having or able to exercise a prerogative

Word History and Origins

Origin of prerogative¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin praerogātīvus (adjective) “voting first,” praerogātīva (noun use of feminine of adjective) “tribe or century with right to vote first.” See pre-, interrogative

Word History and Origins

Origin of prerogative¹

C14: from Latin praerogātīva privilege, earlier: group with the right to vote first, from prae before + rogāre to ask, beg for

Synonym Study

See privilege.

Example Sentences

Internationalists, by contrast, focus on democratically agreed-upon norms around human rights, while challenging the state’s prerogative to deploy child soldiers, employ child workers or kill off large parts of the population.

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The president is now acting with the “monarchical prerogatives” he believed was needed — and Cheney was appalled by what he is doing with them.

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Newby then wrote a majority opinion declaring that partisan gerrymandering was legal and that the Democrat-led court had unconstitutionally infringed on the legislature’s prerogative to create electoral maps.

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A Cas statement said the FIG argued it had "no prerogatives" in the issuing of entry visas, and the Indonesian government's decision not to grant the visas falls "outside the competence" of the organisation.

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“His mindset is that the region is the U.S.’s backyard and his strategic prerogative, in the name of protecting the homeland and boosting ‘America First.’

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• immunity 
• perquisite