privilege
Americannoun
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privileges
plural
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a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed by a particular person or a restricted group of people beyond the advantages of most.
Few people have access to the privileges of the very rich.
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the unearned and mostly unacknowledged societal advantage that a restricted group of people has over another group: male privilege;
white privilege based on skin color;
male privilege;
children of privilege.
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a special right, immunity, or exemption granted to persons in authority or office to free them from certain obligations or liabilities.
It's a privilege of a senator to speak in Congress without danger of a libel suit.
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a grant to an individual, corporation, etc., of a special right or immunity, under certain conditions.
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the principle or condition of enjoying special rights or immunities.
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any of the rights common to all citizens under a modern constitutional government.
We enjoy the privileges of a free people.
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an advantage or source of pleasure granted to a person.
It's my privilege to be here.
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Stock Exchange. an option to buy or sell stock at a stipulated price for a limited period of time, including puts, calls, spreads, and straddles.
verb (used with object)
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privileges,
present (3rd person singular)
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privileged,
past participle, past
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privileging
present participle
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to grant a privilege to.
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to exempt (usually followed byfrom ).
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to authorize or license (something otherwise forbidden).
noun
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a benefit, immunity, etc, granted under certain conditions
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the advantages and immunities enjoyed by a small usually powerful group or class, esp to the disadvantage of others
one of the obstacles to social harmony is privilege
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any of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens of a country by its constitution
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the right of a lawyer to refuse to divulge information obtained in confidence from a client
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the right claimed by any of certain other functionaries to refuse to divulge information
executive privilege
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the rights and immunities enjoyed by members of most legislative bodies, such as freedom of speech, freedom from arrest in civil cases during a session, etc
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stock exchange a speculative contract permitting its purchaser to make optional purchases or sales of securities at a specified time over a limited period of time See also call put spread straddle
verb
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to bestow a privilege or privileges upon
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(foll by from) to free or exempt
Usage
Spelling tips for privilege The word privilege is hard to spell for two reasons. First, it is tempting to use an e in the place of one of the two is, as in privelege. Second, people often want to add a d after the g because of the way privilege is pronounced (priviledge). How to spell privilege: It's a privilege to have two eyes (Is) and legs. This helps remind you that privilege is spelled with two is and the final syllable does not have a d.
Synonym Usage
Privilege, prerogative refer to a special advantage or right possessed by an individual or group. A privilege is a right or advantage gained by birth, social position, effort, or concession. It can have either legal or personal sanction: the privilege of paying half fare; the privilege of calling whenever one wishes. Prerogative refers to an exclusive right claimed and granted, often officially or legally, on the basis of social status, heritage, gender, etc.: the prerogatives of a king; the prerogatives of management.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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privilegesimple
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privilegessimple
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have privilegedperfect
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has privilegedperfect
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am privilegingprogressive
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are privilegingprogressive
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is privilegingprogressive
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have been privilegingperfect progressive
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has been privilegingperfect progressive
Past
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privilegedsimple
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had privilegedperfect
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was privilegingprogressive
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were privilegingprogressive
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had been privilegingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of privilege
First recorded in 1125–75; (noun) Middle English; earlier privilegie, from Old French privilege, from Latin prīvilēgium originally, “a law (for or against an individual),” equivalent to prīvi- (combining form of prīvus “one's own, private”) + lēg- ( see legal) + -ium -ium; (verb) Middle English privilegen, from Middle French privilegier, from Medieval Latin prīvilēgiāre, derivative of prīvilēgium
Explanation
A privilege is a special advantage not enjoyed by everyone. If you're very snooty, you probably don't allow just anyone the privilege of being your friend. Privilege comes from Latin privilegium, meaning a law for just one person, and means a benefit enjoyed by an individual or group beyond what's available to others. Someone wealthy come from privilege. Someone with a library card has borrowing privileges. Privilege can also be used as a verb. If you are on a committee giving away scholarships, you'll have to decide whether to privilege students from poor backgrounds or the students with high test scores.
Vocabulary lists containing privilege
"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
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Bud, Not Buddy
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 26–31
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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.
See Examples For:
"It's such a privilege, it's extraordinary," she said of hearing "hallelujah" sung across the famed avenue.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
I know that firsthand, having grown up without economic privilege and having worked in neighborhoods blighted by socioeconomic hardship.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 26, 2026
“It has been our privilege to serve you, and we look forward to continuing to be your source for production and events transportation.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
The first time Kao came face-to-face with Collins, in 2018, he told the FBI, he had to pay for the privilege.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
Also, as seniors, you have the privilege of cutting in front of the lunchline.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
He’s working from a relatively clean slate, and experiencing all of the privileges and drawbacks that come with it.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
"We call on the de facto authorities to ensure compliance with the privileges and immunities of the UN and its officials."
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
The numbers were boosted again this year, when the members of Twice and Stray Kids were granted voting privileges.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Homeland Security then used that information to revoke Global Entry privileges in retaliation, the lawsuit alleges.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Being the first one awake did bring some privileges, I thought with a smile.
From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson
We're in a very privileged position, and it's understanding that privilege and what goes along with it.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
"I am so proud and I feel so privileged to do every single step that I have made in my career. Hopefully I can end up successful at home."
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
"I feel proud, honoured and deeply privileged to be his fellow countryman."
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
I’m in this very privileged position where this isn’t my reality, but this is the reality of so many women around the world.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
They saw no reason why she should be so especially privileged.
From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry
News aimed to avoid privileging schools with a high concentration of degrees that pay well.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
The recommendations "are designed to hold our attention, and too often that means privileging provocative and extreme content because outrage drives engagement and engagement drives profit", Steven Roberts at Monash University said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
Wood thought it was important to understand Wawa at ground level, privileging the perspective of its customers and those actually pouring the coffee and making the hoagies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
The seating issue has sparked discussions among fashion enthusiasts and critics alike, with many feeling that the arrangement feels elitist, privileging front-row viewers while limiting the experience for others.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 22, 2024
The Dream thrives on generalization, on limiting the number of possible questions, on privileging immediate answers.
From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
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.
