private
1 of 2adjective
pri·vate ˈprī-vət 
1
a
: intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class
a private park
b
: belonging to or concerning an individual person, company, or interest
a private house
c(1)
: carried on by the individual independently of the usual institutions
a doctor in private practice
also : being educated by independent study or a tutor or in a private school
private students
(2)
: restricted to the individual or arising independently of others
private opinion
d
: not general in effect
a private statute
e(1)
: accommodating only one patient
The private patient room, once a luxury for the privileged few, is about to become the standard for the nation's hospitals, as evidence mounts that shared rooms lead to higher infection rates, more medical errors, privacy violations and harmful stress.
Laura Landro
Laura Landro (2)
: staying or recovering in a room accommodating only one patient
private hospital patients
compare semiprivate sense 2 2
a(1)
: not related to one's official position : personal
private correspondence
(2)
: not holding public office or employment
a private citizen
b
: being a private
3
a
: not known or intended to be known publicly : secret
b
: preferring to keep personal affairs to oneself : valuing privacy highly
c
: withdrawn from company or observation
a private retreat
d
: unsuitable for public use or display
4
: not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market
a private company
privately adverb
privateness noun
private
2 of 2noun
1
a
: an enlisted person of the lowest rank in the marine corps or of one of the two lowest ranks in the army
b
: a person of low rank in any of various organizations (such as a police or fire department)
2
privates plural : private parts
3
archaic : one not in public office
4
obsolete : privacy
Synonyms
Adjective
- behind-the-scenes
- confidential
- esoteric
- hushed
- hush-hush
- inside
- intimate
- nonpublic
- privy
- secret
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective It was the first time many had seen works from the artist's private collection. At work he was always very serious, but in his private life, he was actually very funny and relaxed. Please keep all my personal information private. He's a very private person.
Recent Examples on the Web James Mackintosh, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 The private sector in some cases has taken the lead in changing the offensive term for Native women. Mead Gruver, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 In the private sector, many businesses are dropping degree requirements for job applicants. The Editors, National Review, 8 Sep. 2022 The private sector in some cases has taken the lead in changing the offensive term for Native women. Mead Gruver, Chron, 8 Sep. 2022 The time-intensive jobs, which usually pay less than comparable executive positions in the private sector, also are unattractive to many workers in a tight labor market, elections experts say. Matthew Brown, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Sep. 2022 Michael Scott, 24th, who left the council for a job in the private sector, and Ald. Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 The current constitution – by contrast – is a market-friendly document that favors the private sector over the state in aspects like education, pensions, and health care. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2022 In contrast, the current constitution is a market-friendly document that favors the private sector over the state in aspects like education, pensions and health care. Daniel Politi, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Sep. 2022 Ali Winston, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2022 Earlier Saturday, a 27-year-old Ukrainian private was sprinting to shelter across the asphalt when he was knocked from his feet by a shell. Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2022 It was involved in a record 14 acquisitions last year, including the take private of U.S. health-care software company Inovalon Holdings Inc. for $7.3 billion including debt -- its biggest-ever buy. Jan-henrik Foerster, Bloomberg.com, 16 Feb. 2022 Among then was a pardon for a Civil War solider in the Union Army named Patrick Murphy, a private who had been court-martialed for desertion and condemned to death. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 Dec. 2021 Butler National Golf Club is an exclusive private, members only golf club, located in Oak Brook. Pioneer Press Staff, chicagotribune.com, 26 Oct. 2021 Now, both Albrecht and the village of La Roquebrussanne sponsor the private's burial place. Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 18 Aug. 2021 Each morning, dozens of adventurers arrive at Lees Ferry to start either a private of commercial raft trip down the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon. Melissa Yeager, The Arizona Republic, 12 Aug. 2021 Stewart trades movie-star glam for Army camo in this gripping military drama that stars the actress as a very green private assigned to a mostly male group of guards at Guantanamo Bay. Bill Keveney, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2021 See More
Adjective
Despite frequent complaints that the private sector doesn’t invest enough, the 10-year average is now the highest since Ronald Reagan left office. James Mackintosh, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 The private sector in some cases has taken the lead in changing the offensive term for Native women. Mead Gruver, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 In the private sector, many businesses are dropping degree requirements for job applicants. The Editors, National Review, 8 Sep. 2022 The private sector in some cases has taken the lead in changing the offensive term for Native women. Mead Gruver, Chron, 8 Sep. 2022 The time-intensive jobs, which usually pay less than comparable executive positions in the private sector, also are unattractive to many workers in a tight labor market, elections experts say. Matthew Brown, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Sep. 2022 Michael Scott, 24th, who left the council for a job in the private sector, and Ald. Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 The current constitution – by contrast – is a market-friendly document that favors the private sector over the state in aspects like education, pensions, and health care. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2022 In contrast, the current constitution is a market-friendly document that favors the private sector over the state in aspects like education, pensions and health care. Daniel Politi, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Sep. 2022 Noun
The 24-year-old private in the 173rd Airborne Brigade appeared to be just another young soldier, trying to find his way through military life at Fort Benning, Georgia. Ali Winston, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2022 Earlier Saturday, a 27-year-old Ukrainian private was sprinting to shelter across the asphalt when he was knocked from his feet by a shell. Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2022 It was involved in a record 14 acquisitions last year, including the take private of U.S. health-care software company Inovalon Holdings Inc. for $7.3 billion including debt -- its biggest-ever buy. Jan-henrik Foerster, Bloomberg.com, 16 Feb. 2022 Among then was a pardon for a Civil War solider in the Union Army named Patrick Murphy, a private who had been court-martialed for desertion and condemned to death. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 Dec. 2021 Butler National Golf Club is an exclusive private, members only golf club, located in Oak Brook. Pioneer Press Staff, chicagotribune.com, 26 Oct. 2021 Now, both Albrecht and the village of La Roquebrussanne sponsor the private's burial place. Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 18 Aug. 2021 Each morning, dozens of adventurers arrive at Lees Ferry to start either a private of commercial raft trip down the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon. Melissa Yeager, The Arizona Republic, 12 Aug. 2021 Stewart trades movie-star glam for Army camo in this gripping military drama that stars the actress as a very green private assigned to a mostly male group of guards at Guantanamo Bay. Bill Keveney, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English privat, from Anglo-French, from Latin privatus, from past participle of privare to deprive, release, from privus private, individual; probably akin to Latin pro for, in front of — more at for
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Phrases Containing private
Kids Definition
private 1 of 2
adjective
pri·vate ˈprī-vət
1
: having to do with or for the use of a single person or group : not public
private property
2
: not holding any public office
a private citizen
3
: secret entry 1 sense 1
private meetings
private
2 of 2noun
: an enlisted person of the lowest rank in the marine corps or of either of the two lowest ranks in the army
Medical Definition
private
adjective
pri·vate ˈprī-vət
1
: accommodating only one patient
a private patient room
also : staying or recovering in a room accommodating only one patient
private hospital patients
compare semiprivate 2
: of, relating to, or being private practice
a private office
a private practitioner
Legal Definition
private
adjective
pri·vate
1
a
: intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person or group or class of persons : not available to the public
a private park
b
: not related to, controlled by, or deriving from the state
a private school
2
a
: owned by or concerning an individual person or entity
private land
b
: not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market
a private company
3
: affecting the interests of a particular person, class or group of persons, or locality
private legislation
private rights
4
a
: not invested with or engaged in public office or employment
a private citizen
b
: not related to or dependent on an official position
private correspondence
5
: not known publicly or carried on in public
especially : intended only for the persons involved
6
: made under private signature
a private instrument
private
adjective
1
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace that he is planning to retire is private information until he makes a public announcement Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- confidential
- personal
- secret
- intimate
- nonpublic
- undisclosed
- classified
- hidden
- esoteric
- clandestine
- inside
- restricted
- undercover
- privy
- concealed
- hush-hush
- covert
- surreptitious
- behind-the-scenes
- top secret
- closet
- hushed
- underground
- unadvertised
- collusive
- silent
- conspiratorial
- unmentioned
- closeted
- unannounced
- unsaid
- untold
- suppressed
- furtive
- sneak
- repressed
- occult
- stealthy
- silenced
- stifled
- sneaky
- backstage
- offstage
- underhanded
- underhand
- offscreen
- sneaking
- hugger-mugger
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- public
- open
- common
- general
- broadcast
- publicized
- advertised
- popular
- aired
- current
- declared
- published
- professed
- proclaimed
- disclosed
- reported
- communal
- vulgar
- widespread
- prevailing
- announced
- heralded
- blazed
- prevalent
- promulgated
- well-known
- rife
- divulged
- spotlighted
- enunciated
- shared
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a private investigation of the organization's activities Synonyms & Similar Words
- clandestine
- undercover
- underground
- covert
- sneak
- surreptitious
- secret
- sneaking
- confidential
- stealth
- undisclosed
- backstairs
- furtive
- privy
- restricted
- hidden
- hole-and-corner
- stealthy
- hush-hush
- sneaky
- underhanded
- classified
- underhand
- behind-the-scenes
- off-the-record
- closed-door
- off-the-books
- concealed
- subterranean
- hugger-mugger
- secreted
- top secret
- unadvertised
- back-channel
- unexposed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- public
- open
- overt
- avowed
- acknowledged
- unrestricted
- straightforward
- unclassified
- clear
- plain
- obvious
- evident
- undisguised
- manifest
- unconcealed
- aboveboard
- patent
3
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person club lockers in which private property may be stored Synonyms & Similar Words
- personal
- personalized
- subjective
- individual
- separate
- individualized
- unique
- singular
- intimate
- particular
- privy
- patented
- idiomatic
- distinctive
- independent
- special
- custom
- specific
- peculiar
- idiosyncratic
- characteristic
- specialized
- identifying
- customized
- express
- nonconformist
- especial
- self-sufficient
- self-directed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- public
- general
- popular
- universal
- generic
- broad
- shared
- widespread
- normal
- regular
- prevalent
- common
- typical
- prevailing
Phrases Containing private
- free house
- free jazz
- free kick
- Free Kirk
- Free Kirker
- free lance
- free lances
- free list
- free love
- free loves
- free lunch
- free market
- free marketeer
- free marketer
- Free Methodist
- free milling
- free miner
- free nuclear stage
- free of charge
- free on board
- free oscillation
- free overboard
- free overside
- free paper
- free part