Definitions for privilege
ˈprɪv ə lɪdʒ, ˈprɪv lɪdʒpriv·i·lege

Princeton's WordNet(2.50 / 6 votes)Rate this definition:

1. privilegenoun

   a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all

2. prerogative, privilege, perquisite, exclusive rightnoun

   a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right)

   "suffrage was the prerogative of white adult males"

3. privilegeverb

   (law) the right to refuse to divulge information obtained in a confidential relationship

4. privilege, favor, favourverb

   bestow a privilege upon

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. privilegenoun

   A peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity not enjoyed by others or by all; special enjoyment of a good, or exemption from an evil or burden; a prerogative; advantage; franchise; preferential treatment.

2. privilegenoun

   The status or existence of such benefit or advantage.

3. privilegenoun

   A common law doctrine that protects certain communications from being used as evidence in court.

4. privilegeverb

   To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize; as, to privilege representatives from arrest.

5. privilegeverb

   To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.

6. Etymology: From privilège, from privilegium, from privus + lex, legis.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Privilegenoun

   a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity not enjoyed by others or by all; special enjoyment of a good, or exemption from an evil or burden; a prerogative; advantage; franchise

2. Privilegenoun

   see Call, Put, Spread, etc

3. Privilegeverb

   to grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize; as, to privilege representatives from arrest

4. Privilegeverb

   to bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver

5. Etymology: [Cf. F. privilgier.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Privilege

   A privilege is a special entitlement to immunity granted by the state or another authority to a restricted group, either by birth or on a conditional basis. It can be revoked in certain circumstances. In modern democratic states, a privilege is conditional and granted only after birth. By contrast, a right is an inherent, irrevocable entitlement held by all citizens or all human beings from the moment of birth. Various older privileges, such as the old common law privilege to title deeds, may still exist, but be of little relevance today. Etymologically a privilege means a "private law", or rule relating to a specific individual or institution. Boniface's abbey of Fulda, to cite an early and prominent example, was granted privilegium, setting the abbot in direct contact with the pope, bypassing the jurisdiction of the local bishop. One of the objectives of the French Revolution was the abolition of privilege. This meant the removal of separate laws for different social classes, instead subjecting everyone to the same common law. Privileges were abolished by the National Constituent Assembly on August 4, 1789. One common legal privilege in the United States is protection from the requirement to testify or provide documents in certain situations.

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

1. Privilege

   priv′i-lej, n. an advantage to an individual: a right enjoyed only by a few: freedom from burdens borne by others: prerogative: a sacred and vital civil right: (Shak.) superiority.—v.t. to grant a privilege to: to exempt: to authorise, license.—adj. Priv′ileged.—Breach of privilege, any interference with or slight done to the rights or privileges of a legislative body; Question of privilege, any question arising out of the rights of an assembly or of its members; Writ of privilege, an order for the release of a person from custody. [Fr.,—L. privilegium—privus, single, lex, legis, a law.]

Matched Categories

1. • Advantage
   • Permit

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'privilege' in Nouns Frequency: #1553

How to pronounce privilege?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say privilege in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of privilege in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of privilege in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of privilege in a Sentence

1. Unknown:

   Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.

2. That Grammy:

   It was the greatest privilege to work with David Bowie and to experience his creativity, sue.

3. Manu Raju:

   The White House has been fighting this very hard almost every step of the way, they are also threatening potentially to assert executive privilege in his testimony.

4. Jack Kappelman:

   We need leaders of conviction who have diverse constituencies always in mind, who carefully consider the larger contexts of their words and deeds. We need people who aren’t afraid to stand for what they believe in, but who also recognize the privilege of their position. We need leaders who hold themselves accountable to their peers – leaders of great fortitude and great integrity.

5. James Frye:

   Those abusing the privilege lose it.

Popularity rank by frequency of use