pre·rog·a·tive / priˈrägətiv; pəˈräg-/ • n. 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.

prerogative prior or peculiar privilege. XIV. — (O)F. prérogative or L. prærogātīva tribe or century to which it fell by lot to vote first in the comitia, previous choice, prognostic, privilege, sb. use of fem. of prærogātīvus, f. prærogāre ask first, f. præ- PRE- + rogāre ask; see ROGATION, -ATIVE.

PREROGATIVE

An exclusive privilege. The special power or peculiar right possessed by an official by virtue of his or her office. Inenglish law, a discretionary power that exceeds and is unaffected by any other power; the special preeminence that the monarch has over and above all others, as a consequence of his or her sovereignty.

The term prerogative is occasionally used by writers of law to refer to the object over which royal powers are exercised, such as fiscal prerogatives, which are the revenues of the king or queen.

Prerogative. See royal prerogative.