/
prɪˈrɒgətɪv/
n.
- a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class.
- (in UK law) the right of the sovereign, theoretically unrestricted but usually delegated to government or the judiciary.
adj.
arising from or relating to the royal prerogative.
Etymology
ME: via OFr. from L. praerogativa ‘(the verdict of) the political division which was chosen to vote first in the assembly’, fem. of praerogativus ‘asked first’, from prae ‘before’ + rogare ‘ask’.