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View synonyms for privilege
privilege
[ priv-uh-lij, priv-lij ]
noun
- 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: male privilege;
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.
verb (used with object)
, priv·i·leged, priv·i·leg·ing.
- to grant a privilege to.
- to exempt (usually followed by from ).
- to authorize or license (something otherwise forbidden).
privilege
/ ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ /
noun
- 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
verb
- to bestow a privilege or privileges upon
- foll by from to free or exempt
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Other Words From
- priv·i·leg·er noun
- pro·priv·i·lege adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of privilege1
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- ( legal ) + -ium -ium; (verb) Middle English privilegen, from Middle French privilegier, from Medieval Latin prīvilēgiāre, derivative of prīvilēgium
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Word History and Origins
Origin of privilege1
C12: from Old French privilēge, from Latin prīvilēgium law relevant to rights of an individual, from prīvus an individual + lēx law
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Synonym Study
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.
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Example Sentences
The cahier des charges, as already stated, is a contract embodying the conditions under which the privilège is granted.
From Project Gutenberg
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