privatizāˈtion or privatisāˈtion noun

prīˈvatize or prīˈvatise transitive verb

1. To transfer from ownership by the state into private ownership
2. To denationalize

priˈvatizer or priˈvatiser noun

private act or private bill noun

One that deals with the concerns of private persons

private company noun

A company whose shares may not be offered to the general public

private detective see detective under detect

private enterprise noun

An economic system in which individual private firms operate and compete freely

private equity company noun (commerce)

A private company that uses borrowed capital to fund takeovers

private eye noun (informal)

A private detective

private first class noun

A rank in the US Army between private and corporal

private hotel noun

A term of uncertain meaning, popularly understood to imply that the proprietors do not commit themselves to receiving chance travellers

private house noun

The dwelling-house of a private individual, as contrasted with a shop, office or public building

private income noun

Private means (qv below)

private investigator noun (esp N American)

A private detective

private judgement noun

Freedom to judge for oneself, eg (religion) unhindered by the interpretation of the church

private law noun

That part of law which deals with the rights and duties of persons as individuals in relation to each other

private life noun

Personal, social and family relationships and activities, esp of someone much in the public eye

private means noun

Income from investments, etc as opposed to salary or fees for work done

private member's bill noun

A bill introduced and sponsored by a private member in parliament

private parts plural noun (euphemistic)

The external sexual or excretory organs

private patient noun

In the UK, a patient whose treatment is not being paid for by the National Health Service

private pay bed see pay bed under pay¹

private practice noun

In the UK, medical practice that does not come under the National Health Service

private press noun

A printing concern run by a private individual for recreation rather than profitmaking

private school noun

A school run independently by an individual or a group, esp for profit

private secretary noun

1. A secretary who looks after the personal and confidential affairs of a business person, etc
2. An aide to a government minister or senior official

private sector noun

The part of a country's economy owned, operated, etc, by private individuals and firms, opp to public sector

private treaty noun

A method of selling property in which the selling price is negotiated directly by the buyer and seller

private view noun

A preview of an art exhibition, etc held for specially invited guests, before it is opened to the general public

private wrong noun

An injury done to an individual in his or her private capacity

in private

1. Not in public
2. Away from public view
3. Secretly