noun

die Priorität, -en

priority

Etwas, das wichtiger ist als andere Dinge und zuerst erledigt werden sollte.

Definition & meaning

The German word Priorität refers to the state or quality of being more important than something else, or the right to be treated or dealt with before others. It describes a hierarchy of importance where certain tasks, goals, or values are placed at the top of a list to be addressed first.

In a general context, it means "precedence" or "priority." In business or personal organization, it relates to time management and decision-making. In legal or patent contexts, it refers to the "priority right," which is the right of an applicant to claim the filing date of an earlier application for a subsequent application for the same invention.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a feminine noun (die Priorität). Its plural form is die Prioritäten.

It originates from the Medieval Latin word "prioritas," which is derived from the Latin "prior," meaning "former," "earlier," or "superior." The suffix "-tät" is a common German suffix used to form abstract nouns from Latin roots, equivalent to the English suffix "-ty."