Meaning & use
perquisite
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Meanings
nouncountablebusiness
A benefit, such as a company car or free housing, received in addition to a salary.
Grammar: Usually plural in business writing: executive perquisites.
Patterns
- a perquisite of something
A company car is a perquisite of the senior manager's job.
The director's perquisites included free travel and a housing allowance.
Tax rules treat some perquisites as taxable income.
nouncountable
A right or advantage that someone has because of their position or status.
Grammar: Often followed by of: a perquisite of rank.
Patterns
- a perquisite of something
Choosing his own office was a perquisite of seniority.
Early boarding is a perquisite of high-level membership.
Free tickets became a perquisite of her role at the theater.
nouncountablelegalold-fashioned
A payment or profit that a worker is allowed to keep in addition to wages, historically in law.
Grammar: A historical use in law.
Patterns
- a perquisite of office
Fees were once a perquisite of the clerk's office.
The old judge enjoyed the perquisites of his post.
Historians study perquisites in medieval households.
Word forms
| plural | perquisites |
|---|
Common combinations
- executive perquisites
- The board cut executive perquisites during the crisis.
- a perquisite of the job
- Free meals are a perquisite of the job.
- enjoy perquisites
- Senior staff enjoy generous perquisites.
- a perquisite of office
- A reserved parking space was a perquisite of office.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- perk noun
- informal short form meaning a job benefit
- perquisites noun
- plural of perquisite
Commonly confused: perquisite or prerequisite?
perquisite vs prerequisite
A prerequisite is something required beforehand, while a perquisite is an extra benefit that comes with a job.
Practice
A reserved parking space was one of the ___ of his senior position.
Choose one answer.
Perquisites are extra benefits of a job; prerequisites are things required beforehand, which is the tempting but wrong choice.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “perquisite”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.