privilege
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.
the unearned and mostly unacknowledged societal advantage that a restricted group of people has over another group: white privilege based on skin color;male privilege;children of privilege.
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.
a grant to an individual, corporation, etc., of a special right or immunity, under certain conditions.
the principle or condition of enjoying special rights or immunities.
any of the rights common to all citizens under a modern constitutional government: We enjoy the privileges of a free people.
an advantage or source of pleasure granted to a person: It's my privilege to be here.
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.
to grant a privilege to.
to exempt (usually followed by from).
to authorize or license (something otherwise forbidden).
Origin of privilege
1synonym study For privilege
Other words for privilege
Other words from privilege
- priv·i·leg·er, noun
- pro·priv·i·lege, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use privilege in a sentence
In a country where talk is “cheap” and opinions are “a dime a dozen,” we give the facts special privileges and special status.
As in most prisons, the “trusty” was a convict the warden trusted and thus had special privileges.
These entrepreneurs have chosen to incorporate as private businesses, with all the legal rights and privileges that entails.
Refusing to Marry Same-Sex Couples Isn’t Religious Freedom, It’s Just Discrimination | Sally Kohn | October 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTRemember that old marketing line: “Wealth has its privileges”?
She refused to criticize the group by name or clarify whether she believed that ethnic Koreans had special privileges.
For Top Pols In Japan Crime Doesn’t Pay, But Hate Crime Does | Jake Adelstein, Angela Erika Kubo | September 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
No ill use has been made of these privileges; but the domain and wealth of Great Britain have received amazing addition.
The Eve of the Revolution | Carl BeckerBy the fourteenth amendment to the federal constitution their rights and privileges have been further secured.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesI am prepared to recognise the principle established by law—that there shall be equality in civil privileges.
But next—many civil rulers form another class which exacts upon the privileges of the Church.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John CunninghamWould it be cruel to cut off children from the privileges of civil society because of their feebleness?
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John Cunningham
British Dictionary definitions for privilege
/ (ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ) /
a benefit, immunity, etc, granted under certain conditions
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
any of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens of a country by its constitution
the right of a lawyer to refuse to divulge information obtained in confidence from a client
the right claimed by any of certain other functionaries to refuse to divulge information: executive privilege
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
US 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 (def. 61), put (def. 20), spread (def. 24c), straddle (def. 9)
to bestow a privilege or privileges upon
(foll by from) to free or exempt
Origin of privilege
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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