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private

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The definition of private is something that belongs to or is used by only a limited few, or information available only to a limited number of people and not publicly shared.

(adjective)

An example of something that would be described as private is a road that is only for residents of a neighborhood.
An example of information that would be described as private is your salary or your PIN number.
An example of something that would be described as private is a company owned only by a few people and not publicly traded on the stock market.

See private in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

of, belonging to, or concerning a particular person or group; not common or general: private property, a private joke
not open to, intended for, or controlled by the public: a private school
for an individual person: a private room in a hospital
not holding public office: a private citizen
away from public view; secluded: a private dining room
not publicly or generally known; confidential: a private matter
tending to keep one's personal matters to oneself: a private person
carried out on an individual basis: private medical practice
engaged in work independent of institutions, organizations, agencies, etc.: private detective, private tutor

Origin: ME pryvat < L privatus, belonging to oneself, not to the state < privare, to separate, deprive < privus, separate, peculiar, prob. akin to OL pri: see prime

noun

the genitals
also private parts
an enlisted person of either of the two lowest ranks in the U.S. Army or of the lowest rank in the U.S. Marine Corps

Related Forms:

privately adverb

See private in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

a. Secluded from the sight, presence, or intrusion of others: a private hideaway.
b. Designed or intended for one's exclusive use: a private room.
a. Of or confined to the individual; personal: a private joke; private opinions.
b. Undertaken on an individual basis: private studies; private research.
c. Of, relating to, or receiving special hospital services and privileges: a private patient.
Not available for public use, control, or participation: a private club; a private party.
a. Belonging to a particular person or persons, as opposed to the public or the government: private property.
b. Of, relating to, or derived from nongovernment sources: private funding.
c. Conducted and supported primarily by individuals or groups not affiliated with governmental agencies or corporations: a private college; a private sanatorium.
d. Enrolled in or attending a private school: a private student.
Not holding an official or public position: a private citizen.
a. Not for public knowledge or disclosure; secret: private papers; a private communication.
b. Not appropriate for use or display in public; intimate: private behavior; a private tragedy.
c. Placing a high value on personal privacy: a private person.

noun

a. Abbr. PVT or Pvt or Pvt. A noncommissioned rank in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps that is below private first class.
b. One who holds this rank or a similar rank in a military organization.
privates Private parts. Often used with the.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English privat

Origin: , from Latin prīvātus, not in public life

Origin: , past participle of prīvāre, to release, deprive

Origin: , from prīvus, single, alone; see per¹ in Indo-European roots

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