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

Advancements in technology have historically required some type of privacy tradeoff, like giving apps access to your location for more accurate recommendations. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 19 July 2026

The judges determined that locker rooms, where showers may not have curtains or stalls, posed the biggest privacy concern. — Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 18 July 2026

But officials in many states refused, citing privacy laws against sharing the personal information and the lack of federal authority over the lists. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 18 July 2026

The privacy risk of a single age check pales next to the privacy heist that begins the moment the age-check is passed. — Ravi Iyer, Time, 18 July 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