privacy

noun

pri·​va·​cy ˈprī-və-sē 

especially British ˈpri-

plural privacies

1

a

: the quality or state of being apart from company or observation : seclusion

b

: freedom from unauthorized intrusion

one's right to privacy

2

a

: secrecy

b

: a private matter : secret

3

archaic : a place of seclusion

Synonyms of privacy

• solitude
• isolation

Examples of privacy in a Sentence

She went upstairs for some privacy.

Celebrities have a right to privacy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Taking a few extra minutes to manage extensions, enable 2FA and use privacy tools will go a long way toward keeping your personal data safe. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Nov. 2025

With that embrace comes a growing need for privacy. —Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025

The city argued that the records contained highly sensitive information and would impact the privacy of Santos-Aviles' family if made public. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025

Watkins says there's still a lot to be figured out, like how to protect consumer privacy and to get insurance companies on board. —Lauren Sommer, NPR, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing privacy

• invade someone's privacy
• invasion of (someone's) privacy

Kids Definition

privacy

noun

pri·​va·​cy ˈprī-və-sē 

plural privacies

1

a

: the quality or state of being out of the sight and hearing of other people : seclusion

the privacy of the home

b

: freedom from being intruded upon

one's right to privacy

2

: secrecy sense 2

talk in privacy

Legal Definition

privacy

noun

pri·​va·​cy

: freedom from unauthorized intrusion : state of being let alone and able to keep certain especially personal matters to oneself see also expectation of privacy, invasion of privacy, privacy interest at interest sense 3b, right of privacy, Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade