priority

 
Pronunciation: /prʌɪˈɒrɪti/

noun (plural priorities)

[mass noun]
  • the fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important than others: the safety of the country takes priority over any other matter
  • [count noun] a thing that is regarded as more important than others: housework didn’t figure high on her list of priorities
  • British the right to proceed before other traffic: priority is given to traffic already on the roundabout

Origin:

late Middle English (denoting precedence in time or rank): from Old French priorite, from medieval Latin prioritas, from Latin prior 'former' (see prior1)