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
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
4
: not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market
a private company
privately
adverb
privateness
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
3
archaic
: one not in public office
4
obsolete
: privacy
Synonyms
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 WebRebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 24 Nov. 2023
Training and certification in private pilot, instrument rating and commercial pilot will be offered with all licenses and ratings having full certification and accreditation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
—Ryan Anderson, arkansasonline.com, 24 Nov. 2023
Become a Subscriber Workers were pouring concrete over a Wagner cemetery near the southern Russian city of Samara on August 24, part of Moscow’s punishment for the private army’s one-day mutiny in June.
—Anna Nemtsova, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2023
Ogilvie’s semi-autobiographical film is set in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1979 where a private schoolboy becomes desperately enamored with all things post-punk.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 Nov. 2023
The Domaine first became the private summer home of the Primat family in the 1980s, who began operating it as a hotel in 2015 before handing over the management to Auberge Resorts Collection earlier this year.
—Shon Faye, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2023
Additionally, your parents do not owe you tuition for a private college.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023
Today’s private spiritual questing is tomorrow’s preening.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2023
In addition to pausing all orders for the 100 mg doses of the shot, Sanofi said the lower 50 mg dose will also have allocation constraints in the private market.
—Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 12 Nov. 2023
Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 4 Nov. 2023
Army private Travis King, who bolted to North Korea earlier this year, has been charged with a host of crime from the U.S. ranging from desertion to possessing child pornography, according to a report from Reuters.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2023
Many jackpot recipients would rather keep their good fortune private, with safety being one concern.
—Bysteve Mollman, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2023
No details were given of the destination of the American Army private, who had been based in South Korea.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2023
McConnell would have no motive to keep such a snub private, and every reason to accuse Biden of partisan obstruction.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 30 Aug. 2023
King, a 23-year-old private who was facing disciplinary action, slipped away after being escorted to a South Korean airport to return to the United States.
—Harold Maass, The Week, 16 Aug. 2023
Eventually, the private grows impatient with the public, at which point the partnership could fray.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 16 June 2023
The area appears rural, with a roadside restaurant, some privates homes and a small strip of stores.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2023
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Adjective
But as the moving new documentary American Symphony shows, Batiste, like so many artists, has a complex private life that his public rarely glimpses.
—Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 24 Nov. 2023
Training and certification in private pilot, instrument rating and commercial pilot will be offered with all licenses and ratings having full certification and accreditation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
—Ryan Anderson, arkansasonline.com, 24 Nov. 2023
Become a Subscriber Workers were pouring concrete over a Wagner cemetery near the southern Russian city of Samara on August 24, part of Moscow’s punishment for the private army’s one-day mutiny in June.
—Anna Nemtsova, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2023
Ogilvie’s semi-autobiographical film is set in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1979 where a private schoolboy becomes desperately enamored with all things post-punk.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 Nov. 2023
The Domaine first became the private summer home of the Primat family in the 1980s, who began operating it as a hotel in 2015 before handing over the management to Auberge Resorts Collection earlier this year.
—Shon Faye, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2023
Additionally, your parents do not owe you tuition for a private college.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023
Today’s private spiritual questing is tomorrow’s preening.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2023
In addition to pausing all orders for the 100 mg doses of the shot, Sanofi said the lower 50 mg dose will also have allocation constraints in the private market.
—Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 12 Nov. 2023
Noun
Travis Kelce is keeping details about his romance with Taylor Swift private.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 4 Nov. 2023
Army private Travis King, who bolted to North Korea earlier this year, has been charged with a host of crime from the U.S. ranging from desertion to possessing child pornography, according to a report from Reuters.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2023
Many jackpot recipients would rather keep their good fortune private, with safety being one concern.
—Bysteve Mollman, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2023
No details were given of the destination of the American Army private, who had been based in South Korea.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2023
McConnell would have no motive to keep such a snub private, and every reason to accuse Biden of partisan obstruction.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 30 Aug. 2023
King, a 23-year-old private who was facing disciplinary action, slipped away after being escorted to a South Korean airport to return to the United States.
—Harold Maass, The Week, 16 Aug. 2023
Eventually, the private grows impatient with the public, at which point the partnership could fray.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 16 June 2023
The area appears rural, with a roadside restaurant, some privates homes and a small strip of stores.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'private.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of private was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing private
Articles Related to private
Dictionary Entries Near private
Cite this Entry
“Private.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
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 noun1
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
More from Merriam-Webster on private
Nglish: Translation of private for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of private for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about private
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