What does prerogative mean?

Definitions for prerogative
prɪˈrɒg ə tɪv, pəˈrɒg-pre·rog·a·tive

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word prerogative.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. prerogative, privilege, perquisite, exclusive rightnoun

    a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right)

    "suffrage was the prerogative of white adult males"

Wiktionary

  1. prerogativenoun

    A hereditary or official right or privilege.

  2. prerogativenoun

    A right, or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc, especially such a power to make a decision or judgement.

  3. prerogativenoun

    A right, generally

  4. prerogativenoun

    A property, attribute or ability which gives one a superiority or advantage over others; an inherent advantage or privilege; a talent.

  5. prerogativeadjective

    Having a hereditary or official right or privilege.

  6. Etymology: From the noun prerogative, from praerogativa, noun use of the feminine singular of praerogativus.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Prerogativenoun

    An exclusive or peculiar privilege.

    Etymology: prerogative, Fr. prærogativa, low Lat.

    My daughters and the fair Parthenia might far better put in their claim for that prerogative. Philip Sidney.

    Our prerogative
    Calls not your counsels, but our natural goodness
    Imparts this. William Shakespeare.

    How could communities,
    The primogeniture, and due of birth,
    Prerogative of age, sceptres, and crowns,
    But by degree, stand in authentick place? William Shakespeare.

    The great Caliph hath an old prerogative in the choice and confirmation of the kings of Assyria. Richard Knolles.

    They are the best laws, by which the king hath the justest prerogative, and the people the best liberty. Francis Bacon.

    Had any of these second causes despoiled God of his prerogative, or had God himself constrained the mind and will of man to impious acts by any celestial inforcements? Walter Raleigh.

    They obtained another royal prerogative and power, to make war and peace at their pleasure. Davies.

    The house of commons to these their prerogatives over the lords, sent an order to the lieutenant of the tower, that he should cause him to be executed that very day. Edward Hyde.

    For freedom still maintain’d alive,
    Freedom an English subjects’ sole prerogative,
    Accept our pious praise. Dryden.

    All wish the dire prerogative to kill,
    Ev’n they wou’d have the pow’r, who want the will. Dryden.

    It seems to be the prerogative of human understanding, when it has distinguished any ideas, so as to perceive them to be different, to consider in what circumstances they are capable to be compared. John Locke.

    I will not consider only the prerogatives of man above other animals, but the endowments which nature hath conferred on his body in common with them. John Ray, on the Creation.

Wikipedia

  1. Prerogative

    In law, a prerogative is an exclusive right bestowed by a government or state and invested in an individual or group, the content of which is separate from the body of rights enjoyed under the general law. It was a common facet of feudal law. The word is derived from Old French prerogative (14c.), M.L. prerogativa "special right", from Latin praerogativa "prerogative, previous choice or election", originally (with tribus, centuria) "100 voters who by lot voted first in the Roman comitia", from praerogativus (adj.) "chosen to vote first."

ChatGPT

  1. prerogative

    A prerogative is a special right or privilege that is enjoyed by a person or group due to their position or status. It usually refers to a exclusive authority or power that is not shared with others.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Prerogativenoun

    an exclusive or peculiar privilege; prior and indefeasible right; fundamental and essential possession; -- used generally of an official and hereditary right which may be asserted without question, and for the exercise of which there is no responsibility or accountability as to the fact and the manner of its exercise

  2. Prerogativenoun

    precedence; preeminence; first rank

Wikidata

  1. Prerogative

    In law, a prerogative is an exclusive right given from a government or state and invested in an individual or group, the content of which is separate from the body of rights enjoyed under the general law of the normative state. It was a common facet of feudal law. The word is derived from O.Fr. prerogative, M.L. prerogativa "special right," from L. praerogativa "prerogative, previous choice or election," originally "unit of 100 voters who by lot voted first in the Roman comitia," from praerogativus "chosen to vote first." In modern popular culture usage, the word prerogative has come to mean the egalitarian condition of the right for anyone's own self-determination, e.g., that it is "one's prerogative" to do as they please. The antithesis of the legal historic use of the term, being private exclusion from anyone and determined to the individual from without.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Prerogative

    prē-rog′a-tiv, n. a peculiar privilege shared by no other: a right arising out of one's rank, position, or nature.—adj. arising out of, or held by, prerogative.—v.t. to endow with a prerogative.—adj. Prerog′atived (Shak.), having a prerogative or exclusive privilege.—adv. Prerog′atively, by prerogative or exclusive privilege.—Prerogative court, formerly a court having jurisdiction over testamentary matters.—Royal prerogative, the rights which a sovereign has by right of office, which are different in different countries. [Fr.,—L. prærogativus, that is asked before others for his opinion or vote—præ, before, rogāre, -ātum, to ask.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. prerogative

    A word of large extent. By the constitution of England the sovereign alone has the power of declaring war and peace. The crown is not precluded by the Prize Act from superseding prize proceedings by directing restitution of property seized, before adjudication, and against the will of the captors.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of prerogative in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of prerogative in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of prerogative in a Sentence

  1. Thomas à Kempis:

    Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.

  2. Ben Shapiro:

    It’s catcalling because, I guess, if I suggest that I want to have a conversation, I’m demanding a response, well every request is a request. All she had to say here was, ‘Nah.’ That would’ve been fine, I mean she’s got that prerogative.

  3. The Australian:

    For me, I don’t think that the stuff that they’re doing to Adam Goodes is racist, it’s their prerogative. Australia can have an opinion. You’re allowed to have an opinion -- that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right -- but you’re allowed to have an opinion.

  4. Richard Sneed:

    I’m not offended by somebody waving their arm at a sports game, i’m just not. If somebody is, that’s their prerogative, it’s their right. They can be offended. ... I don’t know very many, maybe one or two, from my tribe who say, ‘Yeah, I don’t like that.’ But at the end of the day, we’ve got bigger issues to deal with.

  5. Dianne Feinstein:

    My whole view of Saudi Arabia changed with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, i will not support another Saudi arms sale, and I urge all of my Senate Intelligence Committee colleagues to stand up for congressional prerogative and block the President's end-run around the law.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

prerogative#10000#37800#100000

Translations for prerogative

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"prerogative." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/prerogative>.

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