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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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
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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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Examples of private in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The wraparound balcony is also shared, though the cottage on each side feels private and has its own seating area.
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Andrew Sessa, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2024
After graduation, Wood got a job at a private landfill company as an environmental compliance coordinator before taking on a role for the First Tennessee Development District, an association of local governments, working on solid waste management projects.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2024
Embarking on a new chapter of private space exploration, the Polaris Dawn mission is poised to make history this week by launching four private citizens into ultra-high orbit and attempting the first civilian spacewalk.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2024
The crew is expected to attempt the first spacewalk carried out by private citizens.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 19 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private 
Andrew Sessa, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2024
After graduation, Wood got a job at a private landfill company as an environmental compliance coordinator before taking on a role for the First Tennessee Development District, an association of local governments, working on solid waste management projects.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2024
Embarking on a new chapter of private space exploration, the Polaris Dawn mission is poised to make history this week by launching four private citizens into ultra-high orbit and attempting the first civilian spacewalk.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2024
The crew is expected to attempt the first spacewalk carried out by private citizens.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 19 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'private.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Private.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
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