privilege

[ priv-uh-lij, priv-lij ]

/ ˈprɪv ə lɪdʒ, ˈprɪv lɪdʒ /

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See synonyms for: privilege / privileged / privileges / privileging on Thesaurus.com

noun

a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed by a particular person or a restricted group of people beyond the advantages of most: the privileges of the very rich.
the unearned and mostly unacknowledged societal advantage that a restricted group of people has over another group: white privilege based on skin color;male privilege;children of privilege.

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).

OTHER WORDS FOR privilege

4 license, freedom, liberty.

See synonyms for privilege on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of privilege

First recorded in 1125–75; (noun) Middle English; earlier privilegie, from Old French privilege, from Latin prīvilēgium originally, “a law (for or against an individual),” equivalent to prīvi- (combining form of prīvus “one's own, private”) + lēg- (see legal) + -ium -ium; (verb) Middle English privilegen, from Middle French privilegier, from Medieval Latin prīvilēgiāre, derivative of prīvilēgium

synonym study 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM privilege

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use privilege in a sentence

In a country where talk is “cheap” and opinions are “a dime a dozen,” we give the facts special privileges and special status.
On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim|James Poulos|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As in most prisons, the “trusty” was a convict the warden trusted and thus had special privileges.
The Tragic History of Southern Food|Jason Berry|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These entrepreneurs have chosen to incorporate as private businesses, with all the legal rights and privileges that entails.
Refusing to Marry Same-Sex Couples Isn’t Religious Freedom, It’s Just Discrimination|Sally Kohn|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Remember that old marketing line: “Wealth has its privileges”?
Rich People Want You to Work for Free|Ted Gioia|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

She refused to criticize the group by name or clarify whether she believed that ethnic Koreans had special privileges.
For Top Pols In Japan Crime Doesn’t Pay, But Hate Crime Does|Jake Adelstein, Angela Erika Kubo|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No ill use has been made of these privileges; but the domain and wealth of Great Britain have received amazing addition.
The Eve of the Revolution|Carl Becker
By the fourteenth amendment to the federal constitution their rights and privileges have been further secured.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
I am prepared to recognise the principle established by law—that there shall be equality in civil privileges.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
But next—many civil rulers form another class which exacts upon the privileges of the Church.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
Would it be cruel to cut off children from the privileges of civil society because of their feebleness?
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham

British Dictionary definitions for privilege

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

privilege

OTHER WORDS FOR privilege

Origin of privilege

synonym study for privilege

OTHER WORDS FROM privilege

Words related to privilege

How to use privilege in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for privilege

Word Origin for privilege