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prerogative

Syllabification: (pre·rog·a·tive)

Pronunciation: /priˈrägətiv, pəˈräg-/

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Definition of prerogative

noun

a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class:owning an automobile was still the prerogative of the rich
a faculty or property distinguishing a person or class:it’s not a female prerogative to feel insecure
(also royal prerogative) the right of the sovereign, which in British law is theoretically subject to no restriction.

adjective

[attributive] British Law

arising from the prerogative of the Crown (usually delegated to the government or the judiciary) and based in common law rather than statutory law:the monarch retained the formal prerogative power to appoint the Prime Minister

Origin:

late Middle English: via Old French from Latin praerogativa '(the verdict of) the political division that was chosen to vote first in the assembly', feminine (used as noun) of praerogativus 'asked first', from prae 'before' + rogare 'ask'

Remember that prerogative begins with pre-.the prerogative powers and rights enjoyed by the monarch.

prerogative in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of prerogative in the British & World English dictionary

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