privet

noun

priv·​et ˈpri-vət 

: a Eurasian deciduous shrub (Ligustrum vulgare) of the olive family with semievergreen leaves and small white flowers that is widely used for hedges

broadly : any of various shrubs of the same genus

Examples of privet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Waxleaf privet can grow in full or part sun and is perennial in USDA Zones 7 through 11. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 May 2026

Research whether privet overcrowds native plants in your area and supports local wildlife before planting. —Sarah Everett, The Spruce, 11 May 2026

The Path was maybe three feet wide, broken cement, overhung in places by my grandmother’s privet hedge, whose tiny white blossoms carried the scent of my Brooklyn childhood. —Gabrielle Glancy, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2026

Due to its large leaves, waxleaf privet is best suited to large topiary sculptures. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for privet

• civet
• pivot
• rivet

Kids Definition

privet

noun

priv·​et ˈpriv-ət 

: a shrub that is related to the olive, has small white flowers, and is widely used for hedges