Definitions for private
ˈpraɪ vɪtpri·vate

Princeton's WordNet(2.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. private, buck private, common soldier(adj)

   an enlisted man of the lowest rank in the Army or Marines

   "our prisoner was just a private and knew nothing of value"

2. private(adj)

   confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

   "a private place"; "private discussions"; "private lessons"; "a private club"; "a private secretary"; "private property"; "the former President is now a private citizen"; "public figures struggle to maintain a private life"

3. private(adj)

   concerning things deeply private and personal

   "private correspondence"; "private family matters"

4. individual(a), private(adj)

   concerning one person exclusively

   "we all have individual cars"; "each room has a private bath"

5. secret, private(adj)

   not expressed

   "secret (or private) thoughts"

Wiktionary(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. private(Noun)

   The lowest rank of the army.

   Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

2. private(Noun)

   A soldier of the rank of private.

   Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

3. private(Noun)

   (in plural privates) A euphemistic term for the genitals.

   Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

4. private(Adjective)

   Belonging to, concerning, or accessible only to an individual person or a specific group.

   Her address is private, you can't have it.

   Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

5. private(Adjective)

   Not in governmental office or employment.

   He quit public life, living quietly as a private citizen.

   Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

6. private(Adjective)

   Not publicly known; not open; secret.

   The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private.

   Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

7. private(Adjective)

   Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded.

   Can we go someplace more private?

   Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

8. private(Adjective)

   Intended only for the use of an individual, group, or organization.

   private papers

   Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

9. private(Adjective)

   Not accessible by the public.

   private property.

   Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

10. private(Adjective)

    Not traded by the public.

    private corporation.

    Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

11. private(Adjective)

    Secretive; reserved.

    He is a very private person.

    Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

12. private(Adjective)

    Not shared with another patient.

    Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

13. private(Adjective)

    Pertaining to the genitalia.

    private parts.

    Etymology: From privatus, perfect passive participle of privo, from privus.

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Private(adj)

   belonging to, or concerning, an individual person, company, or interest; peculiar to one's self; unconnected with others; personal; one's own; not public; not general; separate; as, a man's private opinion; private property; a private purse; private expenses or interests; a private secretary

   Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

2. Private(adj)

   sequestered from company or observation; appropriated to an individual; secret; secluded; lonely; solitary; as, a private room or apartment; private prayer

   Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

3. Private(adj)

   not invested with, or engaged in, public office or employment; as, a private citizen; private life

   Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

4. Private(adj)

   not publicly known; not open; secret; as, a private negotiation; a private understanding

   Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

5. Private(adj)

   having secret or private knowledge; privy

   Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

6. Private(noun)

   a secret message; a personal unofficial communication

   Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

7. Private(noun)

   personal interest; particular business

   Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

8. Private(noun)

   privacy; retirement

   Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

9. Private(noun)

   one not invested with a public office

   Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

10. Private(noun)

    a common soldier; a soldier below the grade of a noncommissioned officer

    Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

11. Private(noun)

    the private parts; the genitals

    Etymology: [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.]

Freebase(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Private

   A private is a soldier of the lowest military rank. In modern military parlance, 'private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.

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

1. Private

   prī′vāt, adj. apart from the state: not invested with public office: peculiar to one's self: belonging to an individual person or company: not public: retired from observation: secret: not publicly known: not holding a commission.—n. a common soldier: (Shak.) a person without public office, a secret message, privacy, retirement.—adv. Prī′vately.—n. Prī′vateness.—Private act, &c., an act, &c., which deals with the concerns of private persons—opp. to General act, &c.; Private judgment, the judgment of an individual, esp. on the meaning of a passage or doctrine of Scripture, as distinguished from the interpretation of the church; Private law, that part of law which deals with the rights and duties of persons quâ individuals; Private legislation, legislation affecting the interests of private persons; Private parts, the sexual organs; Private property, rights, the property, rights of individual persons, as distinguished from that which belongs to a public body and is devoted to public use; Private trust, a trust managed in the interest of private parties; Private wrong, an injury done to an individual in his private capacity.—In private, privately, in secret; The private (obs.), the private life of individuals. [L. privatus, pa.p. of privāre, to separate—privus, single.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. private

   The proper designation of a soldier serving in the ranks of the army, holding no special position.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. private

   The title applied in the British army to a common soldier of the cavalry and infantry; the corresponding rank in the artillery being gunner or driver, and in the engineers, the sapper. A private in the cavalry is sometimes called a trooper. In the U. S. army all the soldiers who are below the grade of non-commissioned officers are called privates.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. private

   Belonging to a person and able to be viewed, seen or accessed with their consent.

   Many people have private social media accounts as they value their privacy.

   Submitted by MaryC on April 3, 2020  

2. private

   Belonging to a specific person or people.

   If we own a property it is private and not meant to be accessed by anyone unless they have permission.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 10, 2020  

3. private

   Relating to a person and to be agreed or discussed direct with that person.

   His news was private therefore not discussed with anyone only himself.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 10, 2020  

4. private

   To ensure authorized access.

   The personal data of employees is private.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 16, 2020  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. private

   Song lyrics by private -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by private on the Lyrics.com website.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'private' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #536

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'private' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1081

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'private' in Adjectives Frequency: #63

How to pronounce private?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say private in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of private in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of private in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of private in a Sentence

1. Matthew Elliott:

   The private polling is good. We're still confident based on all the polling we're getting.

2. Neil Doshi:

   This is a potential win-win for Marissa, she can sell the company and have a graceful exit or she can be part of a larger company or private equity team and still continue to run the business.

3. Bob Goodlatte:

   The good news is that late last night, through her attorney, Lisa Page did agree to appear for a private interview on Friday, voluntarily. We are still working out details, so I can’t get into that.

4. Matthew Chung:

   Matt is a very private guy. He usually deals with his problems himself. When he sent out this mass message, it blew everyone away.

5. Homeland Security spokesman S.Y. Lee:

   DHS actively collaborates with public and private sector partners every day to share actionable information gleaned from research, ongoing network defense efforts, cybercrime investigations, and national security efforts, that support our nation’s cyber capabilities and the ability of our partners to put in place appropriate mitigation strategies.

Images & Illustrations of private

Popularity rank by frequency of use