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

Single-family homes offer privacy, property control, easier renovation opportunities, and often no HOA. —Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 17 Dec. 2025

At the front, these homes are screened for privacy with plants or behind gates. —Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2025

Additionally, lawyers representing the victim’s family said correctional staff invaded Mendoza’s privacy by sharing footage of his killing. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 2025

In the enterprise market, OpenAI needs to stop Anthropic’s gains in the sector and convince more businesses that ChatGPT is the best choice to meet their specialized security and privacy needs. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 17 Dec. 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