privileged

[ priv-uh-lijd, priv-lijd ]

/ ˈprɪv ə lɪdʒd, ˈprɪv lɪdʒd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR privileged ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

belonging to a class that enjoys special privileges; favored: the privileged few.

entitled to or exercising a privilege.

restricted to a select group or individual: privileged information; a privileged position.

Law. (of utterances or communications)

not rendering the person making them liable to prosecution for libel or slander, in view of the attendant circumstances.
not requiring any testimony concerning them to be presented in court.

Navigation. (of a vessel) having the right of way.

Nearby words

Compare burdened.

Origin of privileged

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at privilege, -ed², -ed³

Related formsnon·priv·i·leged, adjectivequa·si-priv·i·leged, adjectiveun·priv·i·leged, adjective

Definition for privileged (2 of 2)

privilege

[ priv-uh-lij, priv-lij ]

/ ˈprɪv ə lɪdʒ, ˈprɪv lɪdʒ /

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

SYNONYMS FOR privilege

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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR privilege ON THESAURUS.COM

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

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

Examples from the Web for privileged

These posts are still available in archives that are only viewable to privileged members of the forum.
School Shooters Love This Pickup Artist Website|Brandy Zadrozny|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Privileged children tend to live in higher-performing school districts.
How a GOP Senate Can Help the Poor|Veronique de Rugy|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Maybe at one point I would have envied these students who grew up in privileged families so often laden with trust funds.
Stepford Sororities: The Pressures of USC’s Greek Life|Maya Richard Craven|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am one who will march for life and will continue to stand up in defense of life as long as I am privileged to be in office.
Rand Paul Attacked by Social Conservatives Over Plan B|Olivia Nuzzi|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The play, set in 1982, depicts the struggles of three privileged slackers to come to terms with impending adulthood.
Michael Cera Brings ‘This Is Our Youth’ to Broadway After 18 Years|Tom Teodorczuk|September 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I know, however, that you consider yourself a privileged person.
The Yellow Crayon|E. Phillips Oppenheim
It is the name of a felon—of one under doom of outlawry—whom all men are privileged to slay.
Guy Rivers: A Tale of Georgia|William Gilmore Simms
He invited them to the Royal Museum, where they were privileged to view some of the most precious treasures of the Kingdom.
Kisington Town|Abbie Farwell Brown
The most remarkable lady—this to Corklemore, in confidence—I have ever been privileged to meet.
Cradock Nowell, Vol. 2 (of 3)|Richard Doddridge Blackmore
Here before me was beauty of the purest type I have ever been privileged to see.
The Portal of Dreams|Charles Neville Buck

British Dictionary definitions for privileged (1 of 2)

privileged

/ (ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒd) /

adjective

enjoying or granted as a privilege or privileges

law

not actionable as a libel or slander
(of a communication, document, etc) that a witness cannot be compelled to divulge

nautical (of a vessel) having the right of way

British Dictionary definitions for privileged (2 of 2)

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 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)

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 privileged (1 of 3)

privileged

adj.

late 14c. of things; mid-15c. of persons, past participle adjective from privilege (v.).

Word Origin and History for privileged (1 of 3)

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.

Word Origin and History for privileged (2 of 3)

privilege

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.

privileged

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of privileged

Definition for privileged (2 of 2)

privilege

noun

verb (used with object), priv·i·leged, priv·i·leg·ing.

Origin of privilege

Examples from the Web for privileged

British Dictionary definitions for privileged (1 of 2)

privileged

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for privileged (2 of 2)

privilege

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for privilege

Word Origin and History for privileged (1 of 3)

privileged

Word Origin and History for privileged (1 of 3)

privilege

Word Origin and History for privileged (2 of 3)

privilege