prerogative
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
An exclusive right, privilege, or power held by virtue of rank, office, or circumstance.
The inherent freedom of an individual to choose a course of action or make a decision without requiring justification to others.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a right that is superior to others or not subject to the same restrictions. In modern informal contexts (especially US), used in phrases like "It's my prerogative" to assert personal choice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, strongly associated with constitutional monarchy and official powers (Royal Prerogative). In American English, more commonly used in personal/individual contexts.
Connotations
UK: official, institutional, historical authority. US: personal freedom, individual choice, sometimes defiant.
Frequency
More frequent in UK legal/political discourse. More frequent in US general/popular discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It is someone's prerogative to do somethingThe prerogative to vetoExercise prerogative over somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's my prerogative”
- “The prerogative of the crown”
- “Prerogative writ”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Management reserves the prerogative to adjust policies based on market conditions.
Academic
The study examined the erosion of parliamentary prerogative in the face of executive orders.
Everyday
It's a parent's prerogative to worry about their children, even when they're adults.
Technical
In common law systems, a prerogative writ is a writ issued by a superior court to compel action by a lower court or government officer.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The Royal Prerogative allows the monarch to dissolve Parliament.
- Granting pardons remains a prerogative of the Crown.
American English
- Changing your mind is your prerogative.
- The CEO exercised her prerogative to overrule the committee's decision.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It's the teacher's prerogative to set the homework.
- As the host, it's your prerogative to choose the menu.
- The committee challenged the minister's prerogative to make unilateral appointments.
- The contract explicitly grants the publisher the prerogative to approve the final cover design.
- The constitutional crisis centred on the conflict between parliamentary sovereignty and the royal prerogative.
- He argued that aesthetic judgement is the irreducible prerogative of the individual critic.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PRE-ROGATIVE: Think of a king who has the right to speak (rogate, from Latin 'rogare' - to ask) BEFORE (pre-) anyone else.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRIVILEGE IS A TOOL/WEAPON ("wield the prerogative"), AUTHORITY IS HIGH GROUND ("prerogative powers are above regular law").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'прерогатива' – while correct, the Russian word is less common in personal contexts and carries a heavier formal/official tone.
- Avoid translating 'It's my prerogative' as 'Это моя прерогатива' in casual speech; 'Это моё право' or 'Я так решил(а)' is more natural.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'perogative' (very common).
- Using it as a synonym for 'preference' (a prerogative is a right, not just a liking).
- Incorrect preposition: 'prerogative of doing' (use 'prerogative to do').
Practice
Quiz
In a modern democratic context, 'prerogative' is most often criticised when it:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but the phrase 'It's my prerogative' (popularised by Bobby Brown's song) is widely used in informal American English to assert a personal choice.
A 'right' is often inherent, universal, or granted by law to a class of people (e.g., human rights). A 'prerogative' is typically an exclusive right attached to a specific office, rank, or position, implying it is not shared equally by others.
No, 'prerogative' is solely a noun. The related adjective is 'prerogatived', but it is archaic. For a descriptive phrase, use 'of prerogative' or 'prerogative power'.
The misspelling 'perogative' arises from a common phonetic reduction where the first 'r' sound is not pronounced clearly (/pəˈrɒɡ.ə.tɪv/), making it sound like it starts with 'per-'.
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