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

As for privacy, Mayer said users can grant Dazzle full, partial, or no access to their photos and images that are sensitive are immediately discarded. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

As a part of her work, Jacqueline Seitz, deputy director of health privacy at the Legal Action Center, frequently speaks with patients who use drugs, are in recovery, are living with HIV, or are in treatment for substance use disorders. — Alex Rosenblat — Calmatters, STAT, 15 Oct. 2026

What happens to your privacy when Siri moves into your house? — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Drew Blackard, Samsung’s SVP of Mobile Product Management, touts the software as a more flexible alternative to stick-on privacy screen protectors. — Nitish Pahwa, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

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