Standard Lemma guide

prerogative

adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /pɹɪˈɹɒɡ.ə.tɪv/
  • US: /pɹəˈɹɑɡ.ə.tɪv/
  • US: /pəˈɹɑ.ɡə.tɪv/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: P R IH0 R AA1 G AH0 T IH0 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: P ER1 AA1 G AH0 T IH0 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having a hereditary or official right or privilege.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Characterized by lawless state actions, as in a prerogative state.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An exclusive hereditary or official right or privilege.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Despite being a constitutional monarchy, the British sovereign still retain many royal prerogatives.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A right, especially when due to one's position or role.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

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

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • suffrage was the prerogative of white adult males

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: privilege, perquisite, exclusive right

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: right

Narrower terms: easement, privilege of the floor

History

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman prerogative (noun), from Latin praerogātīva (“previous verdict; claim, privilege”), noun use of the feminine singular of praerogātīvus (“having first vote; privileged”).

Across languages

Translations

57 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: прерогативен (prerogativen) — having a hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Danish: privilegeret — having a hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Finnish: etuoikeutettu — having a hereditary or official right or privilege
  • German: privilegiert — having a hereditary or official right or privilege
  • German: bevorrechtet — having a hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Hungarian: kiváltságos — having a hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Spanish: prerrogativa — having a hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Bulgarian: привилегия (privilegija) — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Danish: prærogativ — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Danish: privilegium — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Danish: privilegie — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Danish: forret — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Esperanto: prerogativo — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Finnish: etuoikeus — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • French: prérogative — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • German: Prärogative — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • German: Bevorrechtung — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • German: Privileg — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • German: Vorrecht — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • German: Anrecht — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Greek: προνόμιο (pronómio) — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Ancient Greek: γέρας (géras) — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Hungarian: kiváltság — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Italian: privilegio — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Italian: prerogativa — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Polish: prerogatywa — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Polish: przesłanka — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Polish: przywilej — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Portuguese: prerrogativa — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Russian: прерогати́ва (prerogatíva) — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Russian: привиле́гия (privilégija) — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Scottish Gaelic: còir-dhlighe — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Spanish: prerrogativa — hereditary or official right or privilege
  • Bulgarian: прерогатив (prerogativ) — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Catalan: prerrogativa — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Danish: prærogativ — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Finnish: valtaoikeus — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • French: prérogative — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • German: Vorrecht — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • German: Prärogative — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • German: Regal — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Greek: προνόμιο (pronómio) — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Hungarian: előjog — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Italian: appannaggio — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Italian: prerogativa — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Italian: diritto — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Portuguese: prerrogativa — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Russian: прерогати́ва (prerogatíva) — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Russian: исключи́тельное пра́во (isključítelʹnoje právo) — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Spanish: prerrogativa — right or power that is exclusive to a monarch etc.
  • Chinese Mandarin: 特权 (tèquán) — inherent advantage or privilege
  • Finnish: kyky — inherent advantage or privilege
  • Finnish: lahjakkuus — inherent advantage or privilege
  • German: Talent — inherent advantage or privilege
  • German: Gabe — inherent advantage or privilege
  • German: Begabung — inherent advantage or privilege
  • Greek: προνόμιο (pronómio) — inherent advantage or privilege