privilege

[priv-uh-lij, priv-lij]

See more synonyms for privilege on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

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).

Origin of privilege

1125–75; (noun) Middle English; earlier privilegie (< Old French privilege) < Latin prīvilēgium orig., a law for or against an individual, equivalent to prīvi- (combining form of prīvus one's own) + lēg- (see legal) + -ium -ium; (v.) Middle English privilegen (< Middle French privilegier) < Medieval Latin prīvilēgiāre, derivative of prīvilēgium

Related formspriv·i·leg·er, nounpro·priv·i·lege, adjective

Synonyms for privilege

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1. 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, sex, etc.: the prerogatives of a king; the prerogatives of management. 4. license, freedom, liberty.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for privilege

right, exemption, license, advantage, freedom, prerogative, authority, benefit, authorization, concession, opportunity, immunity, allowance, entitlement, claim, charter, grant, liberty, birthright, favor

Examples from the Web for privilege

Contemporary Examples of privilege

Moreover, the exhibition begs the question: how do we come to privilege certain images?
A History of Paris in 150 Photographs
Sarah Moroz
December 14, 2014
Privilege can be a hard concept to get a handle on, especially for those who are immersed in it and reaping the benefits.
What Is Privilege?
The Daily Beast Video
December 11, 2014
To protest means to question not just friends but even yourself as a white person of privilege in this society.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Protesting
Rawiya Kameir, Judnick Mayard
December 10, 2014
Blacks are quite aware of privilege, Dave Chapelle has a bit about it from 2000.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Protesting
Rawiya Kameir, Judnick Mayard
December 10, 2014
Yet, the only “nobodies” that do not have to be are those that have the privilege.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Protesting
Rawiya Kameir, Judnick Mayard
December 10, 2014

Historical Examples of privilege

Those less than the very best frankly esteem it a privilege.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
Accept them for a dowry; and allow me to claim one privilege in return.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
It is not your privilege as a nation to speak of a distant past.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
"You will do me a very great favour if you will let me have that privilege," said Austin.
Viviette
William J. Locke
"As she's my mare, perhaps I might have the privilege," said Dick.
Viviette
William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for privilege

privilege

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 othersone of the obstacles to social harmony is privilege
any of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens of a country by its constitution
1. the right of a lawyer to refuse to divulge information obtained in confidence from a client
2. 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)

verb (tr)

to bestow a privilege or privileges upon
(foll by from) to free or exempt

Word Origin for privilege

C12: from Old French privilēge, from Latin prīvilēgium law relevant to rights of an individual, from prīvus an individual + lēx law

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.