privileged
Americanadjective
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belonging to a class that enjoys special privileges; favored.
the privileged few.
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entitled to or exercising a privilege.
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restricted to a select group or individual.
privileged information; a privileged position.
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Law. (of utterances or communications)
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not rendering the person making them liable to prosecution for libel or slander, in view of the attendant circumstances.
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not requiring any testimony concerning them to be presented in court.
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Navigation. (of a vessel) having the right of way.
adjective
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enjoying or granted as a privilege or privileges
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law
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not actionable as a libel or slander
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(of a communication, document, etc) that a witness cannot be compelled to divulge
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nautical (of a vessel) having the right of way
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of privileged
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; privilege + -ed 3
Explanation
When you're privileged, you enjoy some special right or advantage that most people don't have. You could be privileged to live in a lighthouse and have a spectacular view of the bay. People can be privileged in many different ways, but it always means that they're getting some unusual deal that others probably envy. You can be privileged because you have plenty of money and get to travel the world, or you can be privileged to know interesting people who inspire you. Another meaning of privileged is private or exclusive, as in privileged information that's only available to a few people.
Vocabulary lists containing privileged
The Constitution of the United States
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"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Vocabulary from the Constitution of the United States
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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.
It was a wistful and exciting moment, a rite of passage for many privileged middle-class parents around this time of year.
From Salon • May 31, 2026
However, these restrictions come after a period where a tech-first approach to learning has been privileged by school systems.
From Slate • May 12, 2026
Even further to the west, Wu Yize's home province of Gansu - known for its deserts - is less privileged again.
From BBC • May 7, 2026
Steyer’s unconventional path to politics began with a privileged upbringing on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
Virtually all of the advantage that wealthy students have over poor students is the result of differences in the way privileged kids learn while they are not in school.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
