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

Within the same complex, the luxe boutique hotel Tortuga Bay, designed by the iconic Oscar de la Renta, offers an exclusive experience with private villas, personalized service, and privileged access to beaches and ecological reserves. —Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026

This was true of disadvantaged students as well as privileged ones. —Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026

Kouoh privileged sensitivity over certainty, creating spaces that felt genuinely alive and insistently representative of the world around us. —Thomas Rom, ARTnews.com, 8 June 2026

AutoElevate is a solution CyberFOX offers for privileged access management (PAM). —Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 8 June 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