privileged

adjective

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priv·i·leged | \ ˈpriv-lijd

, ˈpri-və- \

Definition of privileged

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

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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 Parties with valid attorney-client privilege don’t fear such a process, which shields the communications from prosecutors (or another adversary) unless the judge holds they aren’t privileged. — Kimberley A. Strassel, WSJ, 21 Apr. 2022 The people who are privileged are going to have access to the best care. — Damian Garde, STAT, 19 Apr. 2022 Giving privileged Americans license to act without regard for the health and well-being of the vulnerable will also take us far from our country's original ethos, creating the kind of society that can no longer solve our collective problems. — Kara Alaimo, CNN, 21 Feb. 2022 The vaccine inequities of the summer will become the booster inequities of the winter, as the most privileged Americans once again have the easiest access to life-saving shots, while the more vulnerable ones are left to keep the economy running. — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2021 However, for the most privileged Americans, the power of place, while very real, has become harder to see — because their places change more significantly and more frequently. — David Fontana, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2021 In the Maryland cafe, named for a cigarette brand that is no more, the prevailing view is that something has to give in a France that has lost its way under a president too privileged and remote to know anything of the burden of struggle. — New York Times, 23 Apr. 2022 His hero is a self-pitying and privileged man who is disappointed in life, himself, and his expectations for the future. — Carole V. Bell, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2022 The upshot seemed to be that Lenny, while growing up, was the odd one out in local tough-kid surf culture—too nice and privileged, way too bonded with affluent Mom and Dad. — Daniel Duane, Wired, 23 Dec. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'privileged.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

15 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Privileged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privileged. Accessed 18 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for privileged

privileged

adjective

priv·i·leged | \ ˈpri-və-lijd \

Kids Definition of privileged

: having more things and a better chance in life than most people He comes from a privileged family.

privileged

adjective

priv·i·leged

Legal Definition of privileged

: not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance especially : not subject to disclosure especially in an adjudicative proceeding