adjective

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

Etymology: 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

1. the genitals
   also private parts
2. 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