private

1 of 2

adjective

pri·​vate ˈprī-vət How to pronounce private (audio)
1
a
: intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class
a private park
b
: belonging to or concerning an individual person, company, or interest
a private house
c(1)
: carried on by the individual independently of the usual institutions
a doctor in private practice
also : being educated by independent study or a tutor or in a private school
private students
(2)
: restricted to the individual or arising independently of others
private opinion
d
: not general in effect
a private statute
e(1)
: accommodating only one patient
The private patient room, once a luxury for the privileged few, is about to become the standard for the nation's hospitals, as evidence mounts that shared rooms lead to higher infection rates, more medical errors, privacy violations and harmful stress.Laura Landro
(2)
: staying or recovering in a room accommodating only one patient
private hospital patients
compare semiprivate sense 2
2
a(1)
: not related to one's official position : personal
private correspondence
(2)
: not holding public office or employment
a private citizen
b
: being a private
3
a
: not known or intended to be known publicly : secret
b
: preferring to keep personal affairs to oneself : valuing privacy highly
c
: withdrawn from company or observation
a private retreat
d
: unsuitable for public use or display
4
: not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market
a private company
privately adverb
privateness noun

private

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: an enlisted person of the lowest rank in the marine corps or of one of the two lowest ranks in the army
b
: a person of low rank in any of various organizations (such as a police or fire department)
2
privates plural : private parts
3
archaic : one not in public office
4
obsolete : privacy
Phrases
in private
: not openly or in public

Examples of private in a Sentence

Adjective It was the first time many had seen works from the artist's private collection. At work he was always very serious, but in his private life, he was actually very funny and relaxed. Please keep all my personal information private. He's a very private person.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
The Humphreys family sold a 25% stake in the business to the Carlyle Group, a $447 billion (assets under management) private equity firm, for an undisclosed sum in 2019. Jemima McEvoy, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024 African American freshmen enrollment has notably decreased by 16.9% at highly selective public and private nonprofit four-year schools. Janae Bowens, Baltimore Sun, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
The two-dimensional characters communicate in bromides; Lena’s fellow privates, who suffer from the laziest defining characteristics (coarse Southern gal, proper preacher’s daughter, New Yorker), are the worst offenders. Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024 Two officers were among the victims of the crash, which also included two sergeants and three privates. Astrid Suarez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for private 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English privat, from Anglo-French, from Latin privatus, from past participle of privare to deprive, release, from privus private, individual; probably akin to Latin pro for, in front of — more at for

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of private was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near private

Cite this Entry

“Private.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

private

1 of 2 adjective
pri·​vate ˈprī-vət How to pronounce private (audio)
1
: having to do with or for the use of a single person or group : not public
private property
a private beach
2
a
: not holding any public office
a private citizen
b
: not relating to one's official position : personal
private letters
your own private opinion
3
: not known or meant to be known publicly
private meetings
keep personal information private
4
: not under public control
a private school
privately adverb
privateness noun

private

2 of 2 noun
1
plural : private parts
2
: a person of low or lowest rank in an organized group (as a police or fire department)
especially : an enlisted person of the lowest ranks in the army or marine corps

Medical Definition

private

adjective
pri·​vate ˈprī-vət How to pronounce private (audio)
1
: accommodating only one patient
a private patient room
also : staying or recovering in a room accommodating only one patient
private hospital patients
compare semiprivate
2
: of, relating to, or being private practice
a private office
a private practitioner

Legal Definition

private

adjective
pri·​vate
1
a
: intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person or group or class of persons : not available to the public
a private park
b
: not related to, controlled by, or deriving from the state
a private school
2
a
: owned by or concerning an individual person or entity
private land
b
: not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market
a private company
3
: affecting the interests of a particular person, class or group of persons, or locality
private legislation
private rights
4
a
: not invested with or engaged in public office or employment
a private citizen
b
: not related to or dependent on an official position
private correspondence
5
: not known publicly or carried on in public
especially : intended only for the persons involved
6
: made under private signature
a private instrument

More from Merriam-Webster on private

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!