privileged

adjective

priv·​i·​leged ˈpriv-lijd How to pronounce privileged (audio)
ˈpri-və-
1
: having or enjoying one or more privileges
privileged classes
2
: not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance
especially : not subject to disclosure in a court of law
a privileged communication

Examples of privileged in a Sentence

He comes from a very privileged background. The town attracts people who are wealthy and privileged. The President's adviser has a privileged position of trust. She had privileged access to the files. Only the privileged few can become members of the club.
Recent Examples on the Web Billionaire has teamed up with brands like Aston Martin and Riva to ensure cardholders enjoy privileged entry to concerts, fashion shows, sporting events, and more. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2023 And those records should remain privileged for these girls because there could be private discussions with a therapist that go beyond the girls talking about being transgender. Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023 Our characters are mostly extremely privileged as well. Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2023 Emails are not privileged unless legal counsel is involved. Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2023 Although much of the sizzle here comes from the Thompson twins, this six-part series also looks at other kids who won’t hear their names called on draft day, a reminder that this is a Darwinian process, where only the privileged few make it to the next level. Brian Lowry, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023 The judge also questioned how Bragg could claim that information that had already been published in a tell-all about the investigation into Trump written by Pomerantz could be considered privileged information. Jacqueline Alemany, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2023 Crowded yet well maintained, the urban streets, squares, and markets of Amsterdam, Paris, and Barcelona offered everyday Europeans a quality of life attainable only by the most privileged in India. Daniel Brook, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023 Right now, the Senate is the most privileged nursing home in the country. Nbc Universal, NBC News, 3 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'privileged.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of privileged was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near privileged

Cite this Entry

“Privileged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privileged. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

privileged

adjective
priv·​i·​leged
ˈpriv(-ə)-lijd
: having more things and a better chance in life than most people
privileged classes of society

Legal Definition

privileged

adjective
priv·​i·​leged
: not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance
especially : not subject to disclosure especially in an adjudicative proceeding
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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