private
adjective
belonging to some particular person.
privates
-
pluralof private.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Taking a step back and looking at initial public offerings and public equity markets versus privates, I think it’s fair to say that somewhere along the line, we’ve lost our way.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
What, Henry asks, “have kings, that privates have not too, save ceremony, save general ceremony?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
Zelensky said those Ukrainians released included 82 privates and sergeants and 21 officers from the armed forces, national guard, border guards, and police.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2024
Andriy Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, said the released servicemen included two officers, sergeants and privates who fought in different parts of the front.
From Reuters ● Aug. 7, 2023
One night I played at a ball held for privates, petty officers, and their camp followers in a factory once devoted to the rendering of fish-oil.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
