privileged

[ priv-uh-lijd, priv-lijd ]

adjective

1. belonging to a class that enjoys special privileges; favored:

   the privileged few.

2. entitled to or exercising a privilege.
3. restricted to a select group or individual:

   privileged information; a privileged position.

4. Law. (of utterances or communications)
   1. not rendering the person making them liable to prosecution for libel or slander, in view of the attendant circumstances.
   2. not requiring any testimony concerning them to be presented in court.
5. Navigation. (of a vessel) having the right of way.

privileged

/ ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒd /

adjective

1. enjoying or granted as a privilege or privileges
2. law
   1. not actionable as a libel or slander
   2. (of a communication, document, etc) that a witness cannot be compelled to divulge
3. nautical (of a vessel) having the right of way

Other Words From

• non·privi·leged adjective
• quasi-privi·leged adjective
• un·privi·leged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of privileged¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; privilege + -ed ³

Example Sentences

“Sweden is one of the most medically privileged and healthcare privileged nations on the planet,” Vermund says.

From Popular-Science

Kaguya knows her elevated status is what her parents dreamed of for her, so that she could live the privileged life they never had.

From Vox

The presumption of innocence, once seen as a liberal conceit aimed at protecting the oppressed, is ridiculed as justification to guard the racially privileged.

From Ozy

Josefowitz highlighted her relatively privileged circumstances, namely attentive staff and zero coronavirus cases in the beachfront building.

From Voice of San Diego

Now the dining room was considered as a privileged place by the ancient Romans.

From Realm of History

Thomas Sadoski should be the frontrunner to play every smarmy privileged thirty-something from now on.

From The Daily Beast

These posts are still available in archives that are only viewable to privileged members of the forum.

From The Daily Beast

Privileged children tend to live in higher-performing school districts.

From The Daily Beast

“My experience was very ordinary, but very privileged,” she said.

From The Daily Beast

I still miss my friend, a girl from a privileged white family that had a multi-generation history in a sorority at USC.

From The Daily Beast

Aunt Ri was a privileged character, but her logical method of questioning was inconvenient.

From Project Gutenberg

Bacon's Rebellion is remembered in history primarily as a revolt of the plain, common man against a privileged few.

From Project Gutenberg

But a woman is not, I believe, considered as privileged to know any thing by these commercial personages.

From Project Gutenberg

Statements rendered by mercantile or collection agencies to inquirers for business purposes are clearly privileged.

From Project Gutenberg

Every member and every servant of the Company was to be privileged against impressment and arrest.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• honored
• powerful