Definition of private
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class
a private park
b
: belonging to or concerning an individual person, company, or interest
a private house
c(1)
: carried on by the individual independently of the usual institutions
a doctor in private practice
also
: being educated by independent study or a tutor or in a private school
private students
(2)
: restricted to the individual or arising independently of others
private opinion
d
: not general in effect
a private statute
e(1)
: accommodating only one patient
The private patient room, once a luxury for the privileged few, is about to become the standard for the nation's hospitals, as evidence mounts that shared rooms lead to higher infection rates, more medical errors, privacy violations and harmful stress.— Laura Landro
(2)
: staying or recovering in a room accommodating only one patient
private hospital patients
— compare semiprivate sense 2
2a(1)
: not related to one's official position : personal
private correspondence
(2)
: not holding public office or employment
a private citizen
b
: being a private
3a
: not known or intended to be known publicly : secret
b
: preferring to keep personal affairs to oneself : valuing privacy highly
c
: withdrawn from company or observation
a private retreat
d
: unsuitable for public use or display
4
: not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market
a private company
private
nounDefinition of private (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: an enlisted person of the lowest rank in the marine corps or of one of the two lowest ranks in the army
b
: a person of low rank in any of various organizations (such as a police or fire department)
3
archaic
: one not in public office
in private
: not openly or in public
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for private
The first known use of private was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century