privileged

American  

[priv-uh-lijd, priv-lijd] / ˈprɪv ə lɪdʒd, ˈprɪv lɪdʒd /

adjective

1. belonging to a class that enjoys special privileges; favored.

   the privileged few.

2. entitled to or exercising a privilege.

3. restricted to a select group or individual.

   privileged information; a privileged position.

4. Law. (of utterances or communications)

   1. not rendering the person making them liable to prosecution for libel or slander, in view of the attendant circumstances.

   2. not requiring any testimony concerning them to be presented in court.

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

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privileged British  

/ ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒd /

adjective

1. enjoying or granted as a privilege or privileges

2. law

   1. not actionable as a libel or slander

   2. (of a communication, document, etc) that a witness cannot be compelled to divulge

3. nautical (of a vessel) having the right of way

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Other Word Forms

• nonprivileged adjective
• quasi-privileged adjective
• unprivileged adjective

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.

Example Sentences

Many executives also cultivate friendships with elected officials to have "privileged channels" with public administrations, said Charles Thibout, a politic science professor at the Sciences Po Strasbourg university in eastern France.

From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026

He also called for the country's resources to be used to improve the lives of the wider population and not just a privileged few.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

For a generation, those workers had been in the boom phase, occupying a privileged place with fat paydays and job security.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

And, while I've been privileged to photograph all 15 of Tiger Woods' major victories, one image in particular took months of planning.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

I have no memory at all of that summer’s day, no privileged knowledge of whether that child succeeded in getting the watermelon into her mouth.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• honored
• powerful