private

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Belonging or pertaining to an individual person, group of people, or entity that is not…

   Belonging or pertaining to an individual person, group of people, or entity that is not the state.

   • In some countries, healthcare is provided by both the government and private companies.
2. 2

   Relating to an individual or group of individuals outside of their official roles

   Relating to an individual or group of individuals outside of their official roles; often, sensitive or personal.

   • This book is her private journal.
   • It was a very private thing, they felt, and not to be tossed indiscriminately about.
3. 3

   Not publicly known or divulged

   Not publicly known or divulged; secret, confidential; (of a message) intended only for a specific person or group.

   • The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private.
   • The key point in the original article was that the relationship with the woman, named “Colette,” came to light because Aupetit had sent a private letter meant for her to his secretary instead.
4. ›+ 18 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Protected from view or disturbance by others

      Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded; not publicly accessible.

      • Can we go somewhere more private?
      • I invited him to take breakfast with me; he accepted the invitation, and told me he would tell me about himself when we were in a more private place.
   2. 5

      Not in governmental office or employment.

      • Military secrets should not be entrusted to unreliable private individuals.
   3. 6

      Secretive

      Secretive; reserved.

      • He is a very private person.
   4. 7

      Not traded by the public.

      • private equity
   5. 8

      Of a room in a medical facility, not shared with another patient.

   6. 9

      Financially reliant on fees rather than government funding.

   7. 10

      Accessible only to the class itself or instances of it, and not to other classes or even…

      Accessible only to the class itself or instances of it, and not to other classes or even subclasses.

   8. 11

      Of the mind or language, not in principle experienceable, knowable, or understandable by…

      Of the mind or language, not in principle experienceable, knowable, or understandable by others.

   9. 12

      A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.

   10. 13

       A doctor working in privately rather than publicly funded health care.

       • Because you are already moving people with the limitations of what we did in 1982 on the capping of Medicare, you are finding out that the privates are picking up that slack, […]
   11. 14

       The genitals.

   12. 15

       A secret message

       A secret message; a personal unofficial communication.

       • The Count Meloone, a Noble Lord of France, Whose priuate with me of the Dolphines loue, s much more generall, then these lines import.
   13. 16

       Personal interest

       Personal interest; particular business.

       • Nor must I be unmindful of my private.
   14. 17

       Privacy

       Privacy; retirement.

       • Go off, I diſcard you: let me enioy my priuate: go off.
   15. 18

       One not invested with a public office.

       • And what haue Kings, that Priuates haue not too,[…]
   16. 19

       A private lesson.

       • If you want to learn ballet, consider taking privates.
   17. 20

       To make something hidden from the public (without deleting it permanently).

       • During these negotiations, however, the Kleins say that Hosseinzadeh issued a copyright takedown for the video — even after it had already been privated.
       • Shay has also since briefly returned to social media, making a quick post on Instagram. His account was privated following his scandal in February and his Twitter remains inactive.
       • "[…] IOI had no part in privating the subreddit, this was entirely the decision of the moderators, and we are just fellow fans like you who volunteer our time to help out," a moderator wrote.
   18. 21

       Alternative letter-case form of private.

The neighborhood

• antonympublicantonym(s) of “generally”
• neighborpackage-private