prioritario

Prioritario is an adjective used in Spanish, Portuguese, and related Romance languages to indicate that something has priority or precedence in treatment, consideration, or sequencing. The word derives from Latin prior, meaning “earlier” or “first.”

In everyday use, prioridad is assigned to tasks, requests, or items that should be addressed before others. A project, order, or message designated as prioritario is expected to receive prompt attention or processing. The term emphasizes urgency or importance within a given context, such as scheduling, workflow, or communication.

In law and finance, prioritario describes claims, rights, or debts with a higher rank in distribution or payment. Creditors with prioritario status are paid before general unsecured creditors during liquidation. Jurisdictions differ in the exact ranking and categories, but common examples include taxes, employee wages, and certain secured or privileged credits. The concept is often contrasted with subordinado (subordinated) credits, which are paid after higher-priority claims.

In healthcare and operations, prioritario denotes urgency in service delivery. In triage, patients may be categorized by urgency, with “prioritario” cases receiving attention first to mitigate risk or deterioration. In management, prioritization frameworks use the term to guide resource allocation and decision-making.

Terminology and precise implications vary by country and legal system, but the core sense remains: prioritario conveys precedence, urgency, or special status within a specified domain.