private

adjective

ˈprī-vət How to pronounce private (audio)
Definition of privatenext
1
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace that he is planning to retire is private information until he makes a public announcement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a private investigation of the organization's activities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person club lockers in which private property may be stored

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of private June 21 – July 22 A private decision may strengthen your public direction. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 The airport is used primarily by private and corporate aircraft. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026 If a Wall Street private-equity firm, backed in part with money from public pension funds in California, Maryland and elsewhere, thinks Chicago’s meter contract is such a great investment, why shouldn’t Chicago’s own suffering pension funds benefit? — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026 The Great Lawn was just one of dozens of watch parties around New York City, ranging from soccer bars to museums to private homes. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for private
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private
  1. confidential
  2. clandestine
  3. personal
  4. secret
  5. undercover
  6. personalized
  7. underground
  8. subjective
Adjective
  • Jelly is also making a one-time, confidential lump-sum payment to Bunnie Xo, with no alimony claims made in court.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
  • While the exact details remain confidential, court documents obtained by the outlet show that Jelly (real name Jason DeFord) and Bunnie (Alyssa DeFord) are splitting an aircraft, cars, homes, and their intellectual properties.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026
Definition of confidential
Adjective
  • Attorney Cynthia Jennings, who spoke at a press conference called several days after the police were at the treasurer’s office, had condemned social media speculation about Sierra’s action and the claims of clandestine shredding of documents.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026
  • That the actual, original Antifa formed in clandestine resistance to Nazi terror during the early 1930s appears lost amid the rhetorical vagaries of political propaganda.
    — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • In 2023, she was served a restraining order from the district for sharing teachers’ personal information, which was later revoked, according to previous reporting from The Bee.
    — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
  • They also are allowed to take part in traditional fantasy football leagues (prize money cannot exceed $250) and legally gamble at casinos on personal time.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of personal
Adjective
  • Insider tip Brilliantly, Raffles Hotel Le Royal likes to keep things playful—on my visit, a secret pop-up bar had been built somewhere on the grounds, locatable only via guests following a string of cryptic clues.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026
  • Unlike Norway’s not so secret weapon Erling Haaland, who whooped it up at E11EVEN downtown with the boys after their L to the Brits, Mbappe had a date.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
Definition of secret
Adjective
  • The complaint was the result of a months-long investigation in which undercover operators posed as prospective tenants and recorded phone calls with Greystar employees to test their compliance with the law.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • The Chicago Police Department also carries out undercover stings at small massage parlors after the city receives complaints of vice activity.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • For people with prediabetes or strong family histories of type 2 diabetes, CGMs offer genuinely valuable personalized data.
    — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • With a focus on personalized customer service, shoppers can find unique items and receive styling advice.
    — Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Definition of personalized
Adjective
  • The $20 million capital improvement construction project included full demolition and reconstruction of the base’s aging tarmac and new underground fire-retardant reloading bays.
    — Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
  • Experts say the Teesta River basin, where the hydropower project is being built, lies in a seismically active region marked by young, fragile rock formations riddled with fractures and underground pockets that can trap ancient gases.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of underground
Adjective
  • By calling a game early for excessive precipitation (or making players continue to trudge through poor conditions), an umpire’s subjective view of weather conditions directly influences MLB records.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 9 July 2026
  • Other cities, including New York City and Boston, also administer gun-licensing systems with subjective moral-character or suitability standards.
    — George A. Mocsary, The Conversation, 7 July 2026
Definition of subjective

Phrases Containing private

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privacy
private
private detective
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Cite this Entry

“Private.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on private

Nglish: Translation of private for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about private

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