prerogative
Meaning: An exclusive right or privilege belonging to a particular person or group by virtue of their rank, position, or nature.
Prerogative describes a right that belongs to someone by virtue of who they are or what office they hold, rather than by explicit grant. In British constitutional law, the royal prerogative refers to the residual powers of the Crown (declaring war, granting honours, dissolving parliament). More informally, it is used to assert personal choice — 'it's my prerogative to change my mind.' Common collocations include 'royal prerogative,' 'the prerogative of,' 'exercise a prerogative,' and 'it is his prerogative.'
Examples
- The appointment of ambassadors remains within the royal prerogative, exercised on the advice of the Foreign Secretary. 大使的任命仍属于王室特权范畴,由外交大臣提出建议后行使。El nombramiento de embajadores sigue siendo prerrogativa real, ejercida por consejo del secretario de Asuntos Exteriores.大使の任命は依然として国王大権に属し、外務大臣の助言に基づいて行使される。대사 임명은 여전히 국왕 대권에 속하며, 외무장관의 조언에 따라 행사된다.
- It is the manager's prerogative to decide the team line-up, and she is under no obligation to explain her choices. 决定首发阵容是主教练的特权,她没有义务解释自己的选择。Decidir la alineación titular es prerrogativa de la entrenadora, y no tiene obligación de explicar sus decisiones.チームの先発メンバーを決めるのは監督の特権であり、その選択を説明する義務はない。팀 선발 라인업을 결정하는 것은 감독의 특권이며, 그녀는 자신의 선택을 설명할 의무가 없다.
- Changing one's mind is the prerogative of every voter right up until the moment they enter the polling booth. 改变主意是每位选民的特权,直到进入投票站的那一刻。Cambiar de opinión es prerrogativa de todo votante hasta el momento mismo en que entra en la cabina electoral.投票所に入るその瞬間まで、考えを変えることはすべての有権者の特権である。투표소에 들어서는 그 순간까지 마음을 바꾸는 것은 모든 유권자의 특권이다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: legal, media, general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin praerogativa (the tribe or century that voted first), from praerogare (to ask before others), from prae- (before) + rogare (to ask). In Roman assemblies, one group was chosen by lot to vote first, and their vote often influenced the rest — hence the sense of a prior or special right.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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