privilege

[ priv-uh-lij, priv-lij ]

/ ˈprɪv ə lɪdʒ, ˈprɪv lɪdʒ /

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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).

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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.

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OTHER WORDS FROM privilege

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

Words nearby privilege

privative, privatization issue, privatize, privet, privet hawk, privilege, privileged, privileged altar, privileged site, privily, privity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for privileging

Policy is an ineffective tool to address the cultural problem of privileging access over ownership.
How Young People Are Destroying Liberty|James Poulos|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for privileging

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

noun

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

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Origin of privilege

SYNONYMS FOR privilege

OTHER WORDS FROM privilege

Words nearby privilege

Words related to privileging

Example sentences from the Web for privileging

British Dictionary definitions for privileging

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for privilege