privy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈpri-vē 

1

a

: private, withdrawn

b

: secret

2

: belonging or relating to a person in one's individual rather than official capacity

3

: admitted as one sharing in a secret

privy to the conspiracy

privily

ˈpri-və-lē 

adverb

privy

2 of 2

noun

ˈpri-vē 

plural privies

1

a

: a room or small building having a bench with holes through which the user may defecate or urinate

b

: toilet sense 1a

2

: a person having a legal interest of privity

Synonyms

Adjective

• confidential
• secret
• private
• classified

Examples of privy in a Sentence

Adjective

… there were no secrets in the little village to which he was not privy. —Sidney Sheldon, The Sands of Time, 1988

Halberstam and I and the other correspondents would have felt less beleaguered had we been privy to the secret debate in Washington. —Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988

… to assure you that I am neither privy to, nor cognizant of, any such clique; and that I most potently disbelieve in the existence of any such. —Abraham Lincoln, letter, 13 Oct. 1849

privy information on the current state of the peace negotiations

privy meetings between high-level representatives from both sides for the purpose of bringing about an armistice

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The 2025 lineup, for instance, includes coins commemorating the 250th anniversaries of some U.S. military branches, with privy marks featuring military logos. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025

Steele told me how witnessing this coming of Victory is a guide to ownership in hip-hop culture, as most acts of that era were not necessarily privy on exactly how to commercialize their real rap. —Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Noun

In the time of the Founding Fathers the privy was also known as the necessary, being so instrumental to every person. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025

The upside for the league is that major transfers are not just the privy of a select few clubs. —Peter Rutzler, The Athletic, 19 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English prive, from Anglo-French privé, from Latin privatus private

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

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

Phrases Containing privy

• privy council
• privy purse
• privy to
• the privy purse

Kids Definition

privy

1 of 2 adjective

ˈpriv-ē 

1

: private entry 1 sense 3, secret

2

: private entry 1 sense 2b, personal

3

: sharing in a secret

privy to the conspiracy

privy

2 of 2 noun

plural privies

1

: a small building without plumbing used as a toilet

2

: toilet sense 2b

Legal Definition

privy

noun

ˈpri-vē 

plural privies

: one having privity

especially : one who acquires an interest in the subject matter (as property) of prior or pending litigation and is bound by the judgment as if he or she were a party to the action

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French privé, from Old French, intimate, confidant, from privé intimate, familiar, from Latin privatus private