If A is a ring and P is a nonunit ideal of A, that is, P is an ideal of A satisfying P ≠ A, then it is evident that P is a prime ideal if and only if P satisfies the following property: if ∩[j=1〜n] Ij ⊆ P for any ideals I1, . . . , In of A, then Ij ⊆ P for some j.