privileged

adjective

priv·​i·​leged ˈpriv-lijd 

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

Chats with chatbots are not private or privileged, and conversations may be stored, used to train future models, reviewed by humans or surfaced in a data breach. — Megan Kelly, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026

Its story takes place in an entirely different corner of Atwood’s fictional theocracy — the world of relatively privileged teen girls only gradually experiencing a feminist awakening. — Matt Minton, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

Emails sent between an ESPN employee and an NFL team employee are unlikely to be designated as confidential or privileged, and there might not be any duty on the part of Goodell to secure those emails. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Bea, now chronically ill, grows up in privileged surroundings with her adoptive mother, while her older sister Phoebe struggles to survive on the streets of Berlin. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing privileged

• be privileged

Rhymes for privileged

• underprivileged
• unprivileged

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