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1. Dictionary

   Pri·vate

   /ˈprīvət/

   

   adjective

   • 1. belonging to or for the use of one particular person or group of people only: "all bedrooms have private facilities" Similar personalone's ownindividualparticularspecialexclusiveprivately ownedOpposite public
   • ▪ (of a situation, activity, or gathering) affecting or involving only a particular person or group of people: "a small private service in the chapel" Similar confidentialstrictly confidentialsecrettop secretclassifiedunofficialoff the recordnot for publicationnot to be made publicnot to be disclosedclosetbackstageoffstageprivilegedone-on-onetête-à-têtecovertclandestinesurreptitiousin camerainformal:hush-hushOpposite openpublic
   • ▪ (of thoughts and feelings) not to be shared with or revealed to others: "she felt awkward intruding on private grief" Similar intimatepersonalsecretinnermostinwardunspokenundeclaredundisclosedunvoicedsneakinghidden
   • ▪ (of a person) not choosing to share thoughts and feelings with others: "he was a very private man" Similar reservedintrovertintrovertedself-containedreticentdiscreetuncommunicativenoncommunicativemedia-shyunforthcomingsecretiveretiringungregariousunsocialunsociablewithdrawnsolitaryinsularreclusivehermitlikehermiticOpposite extrovert
   • ▪ (of a meeting or discussion) involving only a small number of people and dealing with matters that are not to be disclosed to others: "this is a private conversation"
   • ▪ (of a place) quiet and free from people who can interrupt: "can we go somewhere a little more private?" Similar secludedsecretquietundisturbedconcealedhiddenremoteisolatedout of the waysequesteredOpposite busycrowded
   • 2. (of a person) having no official or public role or position: "the paintings were sold to a private collector"
   • ▪ not connected with one's work or official position: "he would continue to represent her in a private capacity as advisor and confidant" Similar unofficialpersonalnon-officialnonpublicOpposite official
   • 3. (of a service or industry) provided or owned by an individual or an independent, commercial company rather than by the government: "research projects carried out by private industry" Similar independentnon-state-controllednon-state-runprivatizeddenationalizednonpubliccommercialprivate-enterpriseOpposite publicnationalizedstate-controlled
   • ▪ relating to a system of education or medical treatment conducted outside the system of government and charging fees to the individuals who make use of it: "private education"
   • ▪ relating to or denoting a transaction between individuals and not involving commercial organizations: "it was a private sale—no agent's commission"

   noun

   • 1. a soldier of the lowest rank, in particular an enlisted person in the US Army or Marine Corps ranking below private first class.
   • 2. short for private parts informal

   Word Origin late Middle English (originally denoting a person not acting in an official capacity): from Latin privatus ‘withdrawn from public life’, a use of the past participle of privare ‘bereave, deprive’, from privus ‘single, individual’.

   Scrabble Points: 12

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › privatePrivate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › private

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the word private as an adjective and a noun, with synonyms, examples, and word history. Find out how private relates to personal, public, official, and secret matters.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishPRIVATE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of private as an adjective, noun, and idiom in English. Find out how to use private to describe personal, independent, or secret matters, and see synonyms, antonyms, and related words.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › privatePRIVATE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › private

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   Learn the meaning of private as an adjective, noun, and idiom in English. Find out how to use private in different contexts, such as personal, official, or business, with synonyms, antonyms, and examples.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › privatePRIVATE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › private

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   removed from or out of public view or knowledge; secret: private papers. not open or accessible to the general public: a private beach. undertaken individually or personally: private research. without the presence of others; alone: Let's go into another room where we can be private. Synonyms: retired. solitary; secluded:

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › privatePRIVATE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › private

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   Learn the meaning of private as an adjective and a noun, with examples of usage and translations. Private can mean not for everyone, not by the government, secret, quiet, or a soldier.

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionprivate adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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   not owned/run by state. [usually before noun] owned or managed by an individual person or an independent company rather than by the state. a private firm/business/hospital. The painting is now in a private collection. a former soldier working in private security.

8. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › privatePrivate - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › private

   Something private is something you don't want to share; it's for your eyes only. Your diary entries and your bank account balance might both be kept private.