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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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   private: [adjective] intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class. belonging to or concerning an individual person, company, or interest. restricted to the individual or arising independently of others. not general in effect. of, relating to, or receiving hospital service in which the patient has more ...

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › private

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   Private definition: belonging to some particular person. See examples of PRIVATE used in a sentence.

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   PRIVATE definition: 1. only for one person or group and not for everyone: 2. Private activities involve personal…. Learn more.

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › private

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   PRIVATE meaning: 1. only for one person or group and not for everyone: 2. Private activities involve personal…. Learn more.

6. 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.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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   a private firm/business/hospital; The painting is now in a private collection. a former soldier working in private security ; The area has attracted substantial private investment. a programme to return many of the state companies to private ownership; opposite public

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › private

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   PRIVATE definition: 1. only for one person or group and not for everyone: 2. controlled by or paid for by a person or…. Learn more.

9. www.collinsdictionary.com › english › privatePRIVATE definition in American English | Collins English ...

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   Jun 11, 2024 · private in American English. (ˈpraɪvət ) adjective. 1. of, belonging to, or concerning a particular person or group; not common or general. private property, a private joke. 2. not open to, intended for, or controlled by the public. a private school.

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

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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    feelings/information; 3 that you do not want other people to know about synonym secret her private thoughts and feelings; not owned/run by government; 4 [usually before noun] owned or managed by an individual person or independent company rather than by the government private industries/hospitals a program to return many of the state-owned companies to private ownership opposite public

11. www.thefreedictionary.com › PrivatePrivate - definition of private by The Free Dictionary

    www.thefreedictionary.com › Private

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    Designed or intended for one's exclusive use: a private room. 2. a. Of or confined to the individual; personal: a private joke; private opinions. b. Undertaken on an individual basis: private studies; private research. c. Of, relating to, or receiving special hospital services and privileges: a private patient. 3.