private
Americanadjective
-
belonging to some particular person.
private property.
-
pertaining to or affecting a particular person or a small group of persons; individual; personal.
for your private satisfaction.
- Synonyms:
- peculiar, particular, singular
-
confined to or intended only for the persons immediately concerned; confidential.
a private meeting.
-
personal and not publicly expressed.
one's private feelings.
-
not holding public office or employment.
private citizens.
-
not of an official or public character; unrelated to one's official job or position.
a former senator who has returned to private life;
a college president speaking in his private capacity as a legal expert.
-
removed from or out of public view or knowledge; secret.
private papers.
-
not open or accessible to the general public.
a private beach.
-
undertaken individually or personally.
private research.
-
without the presence of others; alone.
Let's go into another room where we can be private.
- Synonyms:
- retired
-
He wants to meet us in a more private place.
-
preferring privacy; retiring.
a very private person.
-
intimate; most personal.
private behavior.
-
of, having, or receiving special hospital facilities, privileges, and services, especially a room of one's own and liberal visiting hours.
a private room;
a private patient.
-
of lowest military rank.
-
of, relating to, or coming from nongovernmental sources.
private funding.
noun
-
a soldier of one of the three lowest enlisted ranks.
-
privates. private parts.
idioms
adjective
-
not widely or publicly known
they had private reasons for the decision
-
confidential; secret
a private conversation
-
not for general or public use
a private bathroom
-
(prenominal) individual; special
my own private recipe
-
(prenominal) having no public office, rank, etc
a private man
-
(prenominal) denoting a soldier of the lowest military rank
a private soldier
-
of, relating to, or provided by a private individual or organization, rather than by the state or a public body
the private sector
private housing
-
(of a place) retired; sequestered; not overlooked
-
(of a person) reserved; uncommunicative
-
in secret; confidentially
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of private
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin prīvātus “private,” literally, “taken away (from public affairs),” special use of past participle of prīvāre “to rob”; see deprive, -ate 1
Explanation
Something private is something you don't want to share; it's for your eyes only. Your diary entries and your bank account balance might both be kept private. As a noun, the lowest enlisted rank is called private. You may enlist as a private but have plans to retire from the Army as a four-star general! Sometimes the adjective private is used as the opposite of public. If you own your own island, it's private property. Alcatraz Island, however, is public property and the site of a museum preserving its past life as a famous prison — former home to Al Capone.
Vocabulary lists containing private
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 6
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Workshop 2, Part 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Two Kinds" and "Novel Musician"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The two men strolled quiet pathways dotted with Chinese roses and ornamental archways before taking tea and lunch in Xi’s private quarters.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
They also learned of his extensive investments in private start-ups, some of which have brokered deals with OpenAI.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Fulop said that New York CEOs are frustrated that the mayor’s private mea culpas and his public boasts don’t match up.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
In 2014, the Chinese leader, still relatively new to the presidency, hosted President Obama overnight at Zhongnanhai, where the two met in private over dinner.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
What if the private meeting was because somehow they’d figured it out?
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
