Showing results for "privileged"

• past tense form of privilege.
• past participle of privilege.

privileged

American  

[priv-uh-lijd, priv-lijd] / ˈprɪv ə lɪdʒd, ˈprɪv lɪdʒd /

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.

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privileged British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• nonprivileged
  adjective
• quasi-privileged
  adjective
• unprivileged
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of privileged

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

Explanation

When you're privileged, you enjoy some special right or advantage that most people don't have. You could be privileged to live in a lighthouse and have a spectacular view of the bay. People can be privileged in many different ways, but it always means that they're getting some unusual deal that others probably envy. You can be privileged because you have plenty of money and get to travel the world, or you can be privileged to know interesting people who inspire you. Another meaning of privileged is private or exclusive, as in privileged information that's only available to a few people.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

privileged

The company also fought Beasley Allen when the plaintiff firm hired a former J&J outside counsel to consult on the litigation, despite his access to privileged information.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

I can definitely understand why there might not be, let’s say, a surplus of empathy for a privileged young man carelessly and repeatedly squandering his expensive education.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

Yet right now, it belongs only to a privileged few.

From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026

“Whether it’s an actor or a director, a costumer or a sound designer, we are all so privileged to take part in creating television that unites us.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

Bardic recitation was by nature collective and unifying; the reading of books, by contrast, promoted independence, privacy, and the hoarding of knowledge by the privileged few.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

Related Words

• honored
• powerful