privilege

1 of 2

noun

priv·​i·​lege ˈpriv-lij 

ˈpri-və-

1

: a right, exemption, or immunity granted as a particular benefit, advantage, or favor : prerogative

especially : one attached specifically to a position or an office

attorney-client privilege

During the investigation, the President invoked executive privilege.

2

: a right or benefit given to some people but not others

The prisoner's exercise privileges were taken away. [=the prisoner was no longer allowed to exercise]

health care as a right rather than a privilege [=health care given to everyone]

3

: the advantage that wealthy and powerful people have over other people in a society

lived a life of ease and privilege

4

: a special opportunity to do something that causes a feeling of pride

I had the privilege of knowing your grandfather.

Not many artists have the privilege of being able to say they've been part of this …

—Nicky Jam, quoted in The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

privilege

2 of 2

verb

privileged; privileging

transitive verb

1

: to grant a privilege to

2

: to accord a higher value or superior position to

privilege one mode of discourse over another

Synonyms of privilege

Noun

• honor

Verb

• entitle
• authorize
• qualify
• enable

Examples of privilege in a Sentence

Noun

It is evolving into an elite institution, open chiefly to the well-educated few. In short, marriage is becoming yet another form of privilege. —Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, Commonweal, 2 Dec. 2005

The oldest of the students, she had become a confidante of Fern's and she alone was allowed to call her by her first name. It was not a privilege the others coveted. —Edward P. Jones, The Known World, 2003

But the two were grown in the same petri dish of power, prep school and privilege. —Howard Fineman, Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2000

Good health care should be a right and not a privilege.

We had the privilege of being invited to the party.

I had the privilege of knowing your grandfather.

He lived a life of wealth and privilege.

Verb

The new tax laws unfairly privilege the rich.

only professionals who meet the education and experience requirements set by law are privileged to use the title “interior designer” in Oklahoma

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For Rochelle, taking care of her grandkids was a privilege – hard work well worth it. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

Taking place in 2008 and present day, Foster Dade is described as a sophisticated mystery set at an East Coast boarding school that explores privilege, scandal, sexuality and masculinity amid the rise of social media, millennial anxiety and pharmaceuticals. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025

Verb

But the methods themselves privilege human-like skills. —Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 8 Oct. 2025

And the dialogue would happen on platforms that goad each of us into being the worst versions of ourselves; that prioritize in-group performance over listening; that reward outrage and outrageousness; that collapse context; that exist to privilege conflict over resolution. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin privilegium law for or against a private person, from privus private + leg-, lex law

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing privilege

• water privilege
• white privilege

Kids Definition

privilege

1 of 2 noun

priv·​i·​lege ˈpriv(-ə)-lij 

: a right or liberty granted as a favor or benefit especially to some and not others

privilege

2 of 2 verb

privileged; privileging

: to grant a privilege to

Legal Definition

privilege

noun

priv·​i·​lege

1

: a right, license, or exemption from duty or liability granted as a special benefit, advantage, or favor: as

a

: an exemption from liability where an action is deemed to be justifiable (as in the case of self-defense) or because of the requirements of a position or office

also : the affirmative defense that an action is privileged compare excuse

— absolute privilege

: a privilege that exempts a person from liability especially for defamation regardless of intent or motive

specifically : a privilege that exempts high public officials (as legislators) from liability for statements made while acting in their official capacity without regard to intent or malice

— qualified privilege

: a privilege especially in the law of defamation that may be defeated especially by a showing of actual malice

called also conditional privilege

b

: an exemption from a requirement to disclose information (as for trial) that is granted because of a relationship or position that demands confidentiality

the attorney-client privilege

the doctor-patient privilege

the marital privilege

the priest-penitent privilege

see also confidential communication

— deliberative process privilege

: a privilege exempting the government from disclosure (as in discovery) of government agency materials containing opinions, recommendations, and other communications that are part of the decision-making process within the agency

— executive privilege

: a privilege exempting the executive branch of government from disclosing communications if such disclosure would adversely affect the functions and decision-making process of that branch see also United States v. Nixon

Note: Executive privilege is based on the separation of powers doctrine. In United States v. Nixon, the Supreme Court held that this privilege is not absolute and that without a claim of a need to protect military, diplomatic, or national security secrets, the need for evidence in a criminal trial will outweigh a general assertion of executive privilege.

— informant's privilege

: the privilege of the government to withhold the identity of an informant who has provided evidence for a criminal trial

called also informer's privilege

— journalist's privilege

: reporter's privilege in this entry

— privilege against self-incrimination

: a privilege under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protecting a person from compulsion to make self-incriminating statements

— reporter's privilege

: a privilege protecting a reporter from compulsion to reveal information acquired in the course of gathering news

called also journalist's privilege

c

: something specially permitted or granted as a matter of discretion that may be limited or taken away

right to…mooring permit is not necessarily created because discretionary state privilege was generously granted in [the] past

—National Law Journal

compare right

d

in the civil law of Louisiana : a right of a creditor conferred by the nature of a debt to have priority over the debtor's other creditors

2

: any of various fundamental or specially sacred rights considered as particularly guaranteed to all persons by a constitution and especially by the privileges and immunities clause of the U.S. Constitution

Etymology

Noun

Latin privilegium law affecting a specific person, special right, from privus private + leg-, lex law