Definitions for privacy
ˈpraɪ və si; Brit. also ˈprɪv ə sipri·va·cy

Princeton's WordNet(2.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. privacy, privateness, seclusion(noun)

   the quality of being secluded from the presence or view of others

2. privacy, privateness, secrecy, concealment(noun)

   the condition of being concealed or hidden

Wiktionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. privacy(Noun)

   The state of being private; the state of not being seen by others.

   I need my privacy, so please mind your own frigging business!

Webster Dictionary(4.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Privacy(noun)

   the state of being in retirement from the company or observation of others; seclusion

   Etymology: [See Private.]

2. Privacy(noun)

   a place of seclusion from company or observation; retreat; solitude; retirement

   Etymology: [See Private.]

3. Privacy(noun)

   concealment of what is said or done

   Etymology: [See Private.]

4. Privacy(noun)

   a private matter; a secret

   Etymology: [See Private.]

5. Privacy(noun)

   see Privity, 2

   Etymology: [See Private.]

Freebase(4.75 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Privacy

   Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively. The boundaries and content of what is considered private differ among cultures and individuals, but share basic common themes. Privacy is sometimes related to anonymity, the wish to remain unnoticed or unidentified in the public realm. When something is private to a person, it usually means there is something within them that is considered inherently special or personally sensitive. The degree to which private information is exposed therefore depends on how the public will receive this information, which differs between places and over time. Privacy partially intersects security, including for instance the concepts of appropriate use, as well as protection of information. Privacy may also take the form of bodily integrity. The right not to be subjected to unsanctioned invasion of privacy by the government, corporations or individuals is part of many countries' privacy laws, and in some cases, constitutions. Almost all countries have laws which in some way limit privacy; an example of this would be law concerning taxation, which normally require the sharing of information about personal income or earnings. In some countries individual privacy may conflict with freedom of speech laws and some laws may require public disclosure of information which would be considered private in other countries and cultures. Privacy may be voluntarily sacrificed, normally in exchange for perceived benefits and very often with specific dangers and losses, although this is a very strategic view of human relationships. Academics who are economists, evolutionary theorists, and research psychologists describe revealing privacy as a 'voluntary sacrifice', for instance by willing participants in sweepstakes or competitions. In the business world, a person may volunteer personal details in order to gamble on winning a prize. Personal information which is voluntarily shared but subsequently stolen or misused can lead to identity theft.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Privacy

   prī′va-si, or priv′-, n. state of being private or retired from company or observation: a place of seclusion: retreat: retirement: secrecy.

U.S. National Library of Medicine(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Privacy

   The state of being free from intrusion or disturbance in one's private life or affairs. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed, 1993)

Editors Contribution(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. privacy

   Having our private life respected.

   Their privacy was important to them both.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 10, 2020  

2. privacy

   The official right for a person to control and manage with personal authority the access to their personal data, information, computers, laptops, apps, server, devices, network, online accounts or handheld device.

   Privacy in life is a legislative right as our life is our privacy, we have freedom of expression and have the right to privacy.

   Submitted by MaryC on April 12, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'privacy' in Nouns Frequency: #2893

How to pronounce privacy?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say privacy in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of privacy in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of privacy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of privacy in a Sentence

1. Esha Bhandari:

   By putting an end to the governments ability to conduct suspicionless fishing expeditions, the court reaffirms that the border is not a lawless place and that we dont lose our privacy rights when we travel.

2. Elizabeth Cunningham:

   I have hurt my family, disappointed my friends, and am deeply sorry, the first step in repairing those relationships is taking complete responsibility, which I do. I ask that my family's privacy be respected in this personal matter.

3. Diana Graber:

   What I always tell parents is it's not the technical stuff that they need to know. It's the behavioral things, and it's age old things like being nice online and being wise and not saying mean things, protecting privacy and don't talk to strangers and all those ... golden rules, like the golden rules, they weren't delivered to me all at once. They were delivered again and again and again throughout my lifetime.

4. Nick Clegg:

   Simply breaking up Though Facebook and other big tech companies into smaller -- but still huge -- companies won't address the issues that cause people the most concern, whether it's privacy, or election integrity, or harmful content.

5. David Kalisch:

   The ABS shares the same concern about your privacy as privacy advocates and has an unblemished record of keeping census data safe.

Images & Illustrations of privacy

Popularity rank by frequency of use