Prerogative
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 An exclusive hereditary or official right or privilege.
- 2 a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right) wordnet
- 3 A right, or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc, especially such a power to make a decision or judgement.
"Despite being a constitutional monarchy, the British sovereign still retain many royal prerogatives."
- 4 A right, especially when due to one's position or role.
"I hear my chair in the hall; and to keep Lord Marchmont waiting, when he has announced his intention of supping at home, far exceeds my prerogative; so good night, dearest, you will either see or hear from me to-morrow."
- 5 A property, attribute or ability which gives one a superiority or advantage over others; an inherent advantage or privilege; a talent.
- 1 Having a hereditary or official right or privilege.
- 2 Characterized by lawless state actions, as in a prerogative state.
"Law-eroding prerogative developments cannot only be witnessed in hybrid regimes, but also in democratic states, which resort to reflections and practices of an ‘enemy criminal law’, and in the European Union’s recent crisis politics."
Example
More examples"If you want to throw your life's accomplishments away, that's your prerogative, but I'm staying right here where I'll be safe from your lunacy."
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”).
Related phrases
More for "prerogative"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.