Prerogative
/prɪˈrɒɡətɪv/
Definitions
2 meaningsA right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or group, often based on their position, power, or status.
/prɪˈrɒɡətɪv/
A right or privilege exclusive to a particular person or class.
It is the manager's prerogative to hire and fire employees.
💡 Simply: It's like having a special superpower or a VIP pass that only you get to use. Think of the king or queen – they have the prerogative to decide things others can't.
👶 For kids: It's like a special rule just for you, that no one else can use.
More Examples
The king claimed the prerogative of declaring war.
As the lead scientist, he had the prerogative to choose his research team.
How It's Used
"The president used his executive prerogative to pardon the defendant."
"The judge's prerogative was to decide the sentence."
"As CEO, it's her prerogative to make the final decision."
having the right to do something before others
/prɪˈrɒɡətɪv/
Having the right to do something before others
The president was granted prerogative powers in emergencies.
💡 Simply: It's like having a special superpower or a VIP pass that only you get to use. Think of the king or queen – they have the prerogative to decide things others can't.
👶 For kids: It's like a special rule just for you, that no one else can use.
How It's Used
"The president was granted prerogative powers in emergencies."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Royal Prerogative
The rights and powers belonging to a monarch, especially in a constitutional monarchy.
"The Royal Prerogative allows the monarch to appoint ministers and make treaties."
take a prerogative
Use the right or privilege to exercise a prerogative.
"As the department head, she decided to take a prerogative and change the policy."
From Old French *prerogative* (privilege, right), from Latin *praerogativa* (a prior right, a privilege), from *praerogare* (to ask or vote first), from *prae* (before) + *rogare* (to ask). Originally referred to a right or privilege held by the Roman people.
Historically, the word often referred to the inherent rights of monarchs, particularly in legal and political contexts.
Memory tip
PRE-ROG-ATIVE: Before (PRE) - a right or privilege given to someone, often a royalty, before all the rest (ROG-ATIVE), like a privileged, Royal (ROG-ATIVE).