n.
Pronunciation: pr ī - ' o ̇ r- ə -t ē , - ' är-
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
Date: 14th century
1 a (1) : the quality or state of being prior (2) : precedence in date or position of publication ― used of taxa b (1) : superiority in rank, position, or privilege (2) : legal precedence in exercise of rights over the same subject matter
2 : a preferential rating especially : one that allocates rights to goods and services usually in limited supply <that project has top priority >
3 : something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives