What does prerogative mean?
Word: Prerogative
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Prerogative means a special right that someone has because of the position they hold.
Synonyms: entitlement
How do you spell prerogative?
Syllables: pre - rog - a - tive
Tricky part: Many people say this word as if it began with per, and the spelling follows their ear. The opening is pre, and the first r has to be there.
Watch out for: perogative, prerogativ
Memory tip: Think of the person who gets asked before everybody else. That is what this right gives you, and pre means before.
Prerogative in a sentence
Example 1: As host, it was my sister's prerogative to cut the cake first.
Example 2: Giving out the prizes on Sports Day is the chief guest's prerogative.
Example 3: In our family, picking the holiday destination has always been Grandfather's prerogative.
Fun Fact
In ancient Rome the praerogativa was the group of voters picked by lot to cast their votes before all the others, and the English word grew out of that early turn.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word prerogative as used in the sentence:
Deciding the order of the speakers at the assembly is the headmaster's prerogative.
a) privilege
b) obligation
c) weakness
d) rehearsal
Show answer
a) privilege. The headmaster has this power because of his post, so it is a privilege and not a duty.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Naming the new library wing was the founder's ovpegrirtea.
a) prerogative
b) preservative
c) interrogative
d) perspective
Show answer
a) prerogative. Interrogative needs an n, and the other two wrong options need an s; the jumble has neither.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Although the committee offered many suggestions for the annual fair, the final choice of theme remained the chairperson's prerogotive, as the club's rules clearly state.
a) suggestions
b) committee
c) prerogotive
d) chairperson
Show answer
c) prerogotive. The vowel after the g is a, so prerogotive is the slip here.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning.
1. soverign 2. parliment 3. dignatary 4. prerogative
a) an entitlement that goes with a particular role
b) a person who holds an important official post
c) the group of people elected to make a country's laws
d) a king or queen who rules a country
Show answer
a) an entitlement that goes with a particular role. Sovereign, parliament and dignitary are all misspelt in the list, which leaves one sound word to define.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Mrs Rao tells her class, "Setting the test date is my prerogative." What does she mean?
a) The test will be very hard.
b) She has forgotten the date.
c) The decision is hers to make.
d) The class may pick the date.
Show answer
c) The decision is hers to make.
2. What is a cricket captain's prerogative in a school match?
a) scoring a century in every game
b) paying for the team's new kit
c) deciding who bowls the next over
d) keeping the scorebook up to date
Show answer
c) deciding who bowls the next over
