privilege
- a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most: the privileges of the very rich.
- a special right, immunity, or exemption granted to persons in authority or office to free them from certain obligations or liabilities: the 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
Synonyms for privilege
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for privilege
right, exemption, license, advantage, freedom, prerogative, authority, benefit, authorization, concession, opportunity, immunity, allowance, entitlement, claim, charter, grant, liberty, birthright, favorExamples from the Web for privilege
Contemporary Examples of privilege
Moreover, the exhibition begs the question: how do we come to privilege certain images?
Privilege can be a hard concept to get a handle on, especially for those who are immersed in it and reaping the benefits.
To protest means to question not just friends but even yourself as a white person of privilege in this society.
Blacks are quite aware of privilege, Dave Chapelle has a bit about it from 2000.
Yet, the only “nobodies” that do not have to be are those that have the privilege.
Historical Examples of privilege
Those less than the very best frankly esteem it a privilege.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
Accept them for a dowry; and allow me to claim one privilege in return.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
It is not your privilege as a nation to speak of a distant past.
"You will do me a very great favour if you will let me have that privilege," said Austin.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
"As she's my mare, perhaps I might have the privilege," said Dick.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
privilege
- 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 othersone 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 informationexecutive 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 timeSee 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
Word Origin for privilege
Word Origin and History for privilege
mid-12c. "grant, commission" (recorded earlier in Old English, but as a Latin word), from Old French privilege "right, priority, privilege" (12c.) and directly from Latin privilegium "law applying to one person, bill of law in favor of or against an individual," later "privilege," from privus "individual" (see private (adj.)) + lex (genitive legis) "law" (see legal (adj.)). Meaning "advantage granted" is from mid-14c. in English.
early 14c., privilegen, "to invest with a privilege," from privilege (n.) and from Old French privilegier (13c.), from Medieval Latin privilegare, from Latin privilegium. Related: Privileged; priviledging.