privacy

American  

[prahy-vuh-see, priv-uh-see] / ˈpraɪ və si, ˈprɪv ə si /

noun

• privacies
  plural

1. the state of being apart from other people or concealed from their view; solitude; seclusion.

   Please leave the room and give me some privacy.

2. the state of being free from unwanted or undue intrusion or disturbance in one's private life or affairs; freedom to be let alone.

   Tourists must respect the tribe’s privacy.

   Those who wish to smoke can do so in the privacy of their own homes.

3. freedom from damaging publicity, public scrutiny, secret surveillance, or unauthorized disclosure of one’s personal data or information, as by a government, corporation, or individual.

   Ordinary citizens have a qualified right to privacy.

   There is so much information about us online that personal privacy may be a thing of the past.

4. the state of being concealed; secrecy.

   Before he told us of his plans, he insisted on total privacy.

5. Archaic. Usually privacies a personal matter that is concealed; a secret.

6. Archaic. a private or secluded place.

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privacy British  

/ ˈpraɪvəsɪ, ˈprɪvəsɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being private or withdrawn; seclusion

2. the condition of being secret; secrecy

3. philosophy the condition of being necessarily restricted to a single person

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Synonym Usage

Privacy, secrecy, isolation, and sequestration all refer to keeping someone or something protected or hidden from others. Privacy and secrecy are particularly concerned with preventing others from knowing about one's actions, thoughts, and communications. In general, secrecy implies that people who are not directly involved in a matter are completely unaware of it; whereas privacy implies only that those who are not involved, though aware of the matter, are prevented from knowing the details. For example, a teenager might keep a private diary, which her parents know about but which is kept locked so that they cannot read it, or a secret diary, the very existence of which is kept hidden from her parents. Or the leaders of two countries might meet in private, meaning that the fact of the meeting might be widely known but only the leaders themselves know what they said to each other; but if they want to meet in secret, they take steps to prevent the general public from finding out that the meeting took place at all. Isolation and sequestration generally signify physical separation. In contrast to privacy and secrecy, which are usually sought by the individuals involved, isolation and sequestration are often imposed by others. For example, a vulnerable medical patient might be kept in isolation to protect him from acquiring an infection through contact with others, or a prisoner might be placed in isolation —that is, in solitary confinement—as punishment for an infraction. Sequestration can refer to things as well as to people, and is most often used to specify separation in technical or legal contexts: Carbon sequestration in the coal industry can potentially alleviate the problem of global warming; Sequestration of the jury she was serving on kept her away from her family for weeks; Until its leaders comply with international agreements, sequestration of that nation's overseas bank accounts will remain in effect. One wants to keep one's secrets secret, and as well, keep many aspects of one's life private. But the ability of powerful corporations, government intelligence agencies, online stores, social media, or even individual thieves to reach and probe into our personal communications, buying habits, financial resources, circle of friends, and general lifestyle poses threats to one's privacy. Fortunately, for most people, reasonable precautions are usually enough to allow them to engage in normal activities without great worry.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• privacies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of privacy

First recorded in 1400–50, privacy is from the late Middle English word privace. See private, -acy

Explanation

When you're away from the prying eyes of others, you have privacy — you're alone, secluded, and not in the public eye. Sometimes you just don't want to be bothered by anyone, so you seek a place where you can be alone with your thoughts, free from distractions or intrusions. When that's the case, you are seeking privacy: private space and time away from others. Privacy has always been an issue for celebrities, who are followed around by photographers. If you value your privacy, don't run for office: politicians give up their privacy when they run for election.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

privacy privacies

The statement concluded: "Today we close the most horrific chapter of our lives and we want to thank everyone who has supported us during this time and now request our privacy as we move forward."

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

"Our thoughts are with the friends and families of both those who have died and both families have requested privacy at this difficult time."

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

Current owner, Cris Lapp, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the windows in the main building are reflective from the outside, providing an extra layer of privacy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

We ask that our family’s privacy be respected as we grieve.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

“Here at the Lemoncello Library, we protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted.”

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Mass surveillance systems capture not just crimes, but the privacies of life: Where you go, whom you associate with, and the patterns of your daily interactions can be recorded and mapped.

From Slate ● Nov. 10, 2017

In a 2014 Supreme Court decision that made it harder for police to search cellphones without a warrant, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote that the devices contained “the privacies of life.”

From New York Times ● Sep. 13, 2017

Writing for the court, Chief Justice John Roberts stated about mobile phones: “With all they contain and all they may reveal, they hold for many Americans ‘the privacies of life.’

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 14, 2015

He said, “With all they contain and all they may reveal, they hold for many Americans the privacies of life”.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 8, 2014

"News!" gasped the editor, when he had broken into the privacies.

From The City of Numbered Days by Francis Lynde