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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
  • The amendment’s supporters argued that political interference in tax enforcement should carry penalties comparable to those proposed for unlawfully disclosing confidential taxpayer information.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • However, that plan seems to have hit a snag, as days before the Codex Micro appeared, Apple sued OpenAI, accusing it of stealing trade secrets to build its hardware and of poaching ex-Apple staff for confidential product details.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 July 2026
Definition of confidential
Adjective
  • In the past, drug traffickers approached the community seeking to build a clandestine airstrip inside their territory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • The film’s trailer, guided by the unofficial Mayor of the Marquis, Billy Bob Thornton, hints at the tales of wild nights, impromptu poolside concerts, and a clandestine stairway excursion.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • For remote routes, a satellite messenger or personal locator beacon is worth the investment.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
  • Merz took the opportunity to make a series of changes after a senior ally quit as the leader of his bloc's parliamentary group over personal conduct that undermined his credibility.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 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
  • In May of this year, undercover detectives observed Velasquez eating dinner with two plastic forks at a restaurant, according to the affidavit.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • In August 2024, Perez, then 29, communicated with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl, according to the press release.
    — Niya Doyle, PEOPLE, 22 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
  • Humans are prone to unconscious biases and struggle with subjective comparisons, frequently relying on gut feelings over objective data.
    — Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Understanding pests as a subjective cultural category opens space for questioning whose interests are served by such designations, who is harmed by the label, and what possibilities for alternative relations may exist.
    — Elan Abrell, The Conversation, 22 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 27 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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