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

• 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

But just as emerging concerns around hallucinations, data privacy and copyright have put up barriers to generative AI that some organizations have found insurmountable, agents have their own set of obstacles. —Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

The anonymous teen's mother, who did not release her daughter's name for privacy, told local outlet WMBF News that her daughter began hallucinating last week and her heart rate reached nearly 200 beats per minute. —Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025

Like autonomy and connection, openness and privacy, or stability and change. —Colin Bedell, Them., 17 Sep. 2025

Sticking to their theme of privacy, Redford and Szaggars kept their wedding very small, only inviting 30 friends and family members. —Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 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