private

1 of 2

adjective

pri·​vate ˈprī-vət 

1

a

: 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

2

a(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

3

a

: 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: withdrawn from company or observation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

privately adverb

privateness noun

private

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: 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)

2

privates plural : private parts

3

archaic : one not in public office

4

obsolete : privacy

Phrases

in private

: not openly or in public

Synonyms

Adjective

• confidential
• secret
• personal

Examples of private in a Sentence

Adjective

It was the first time many had seen works from the artist's private collection.

At work he was always very serious, but in his private life, he was actually very funny and relaxed.

Please keep all my personal information private.

He's a very private person.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The recent acquisition of 80% of its operating business by one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious private equity firms, PAI Partners, values the brand at $3.6 billion. —Katharina Kotrba, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Robyn and John Horn of Little Rock have donated 105 works of art from their private collection to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, the art center’s executive director announced Monday. —Arkansas Online, 30 June 2025

Noun

Many of these institutions lacked the large endowments that allowed elite privates to weather the financial challenges brought on by the pandemic. —Amy Li, The Conversation, 16 May 2025

Once, a gaggle of bachelorettes taped a poster of a naked woman (with targets on her privates) to the sliding glass door facing our girls’ bedrooms. —Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 6 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English privat, from Anglo-French, from Latin privatus, from past participle of privare to deprive, release, from privus private, individual; probably akin to Latin pro for, in front of — more at for

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing private

• buck private
• in private
• private bath
• private detective
• private enterprise
• private eye
• private first class
• private investigator
• private joke
• private label
• private law
• private member
• private member's bill
• private parts
• private patient
• private practice
• private school
• private sector
• private treaty
• semi-private
• virtual private network

Rhymes for private

• semiprivate

Kids Definition

private

1 of 2 adjective

pri·​vate ˈprī-vət 

1

: having to do with or for the use of a single person or group : not public

private property

a private beach

2

a

: not holding any public office

a private citizen

b

: not relating to one's official position : personal

private letters

your own private opinion

3

: not known or meant to be known publicly

private meetings

keep personal information private

4

: not under public control

a private school

privately adverb

privateness noun

private

2 of 2 noun

1

plural : private parts

2

: a person of low or lowest rank in an organized group (as a police or fire department)

especially : an enlisted person of the lowest ranks in the army or marine corps

Medical Definition

private

adjective

pri·​vate ˈprī-vət 

1

: accommodating only one patient

a private patient room

also : staying or recovering in a room accommodating only one patient

private hospital patients

compare semiprivate

2

: of, relating to, or being private practice

a private office

a private practitioner

Legal Definition

private

adjective

pri·​vate

1

a

: intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person or group or class of persons : not available to the public

a private park

b

: not related to, controlled by, or deriving from the state

a private school

2

a

: owned by or concerning an individual person or entity

private land

b

: not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market

a private company

3

: affecting the interests of a particular person, class or group of persons, or locality

private legislation

private rights

4

a

: not invested with or engaged in public office or employment

a private citizen

b

: not related to or dependent on an official position

private correspondence

5

: not known publicly or carried on in public

especially : intended only for the persons involved

6

: made under private signature

a private instrument