private
Belonging or pertaining to an individual person, group of people, or entity that is not the state.
Adjective 4 meanings
Belonging or pertaining to an individual person, group of people, or entity that is not the state.
“In some countries, healthcare is provided by both the government and private companies.”
Relating to an individual or group of individuals outside of their official roles; often, sensitive or personal.
“This book is her private journal.”
Not publicly known or divulged; secret, confidential; (of a message) intended only for a specific person or group.
“The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private.”
Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded; not publicly accessible.
“Can we go somewhere more private?”
Noun 3 meanings
A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.
A doctor working in privately rather than publicly funded health care.
A private lesson.
“If you want to learn ballet, consider taking privates.”
Verb 1 meaning
To make something hidden from the public (without deleting it permanently).
Etymology
From Middle English privat(e) (“individual, exclusive, private”), from Latin prīvātus (“bereaved, deprived, set apart from, release”), perfect passive participle of prīvō (“to bereave, deprive, release”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more), from prīvus (“private, one's own, proper”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per; compare prime, prior, pristine.
Similar and opposite words
PRIVATE at a glance
PRIVATE has 7 letters and scores 12 points in Scrabble (P 3 + R 1 + I 1 + V 4 + A 1 + T 1 + E 1) and 14 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #629 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with private
All rhymesOne letter away
- PRIMATE11
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