privy

American  

[priv-ee] / ˈprɪv i /

adjective

privier, priviest

1. participating in the knowledge of something private or secret (usually followed byto ).

   Many persons were privy to the plot.

2. private; assigned to private uses.

3. belonging or pertaining to some particular person, especially with reference to a sovereign.

4. secret, concealed, hidden, or secluded.

5. acting or done in secret.

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noun

plural

privies

1. outhouse.

2. Law. a person participating directly in or having a derivative interest in a legal transaction.

privy British  

/ ˈprɪvɪ /

adjective

1. participating in the knowledge of something secret

2. archaic secret, hidden, etc

3. archaic of or relating to one person only

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noun

1. a lavatory, esp an outside one

2. law a person in privity with another See privity

Etymology

Origin of privy

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English prive, from Old French: “private” (adjective), “close friend, private place” (noun), from Latin prīvātus private

Example Sentences

End-to-end encryption essentially means that no one except the users who send or receive a given communication are privy to the contents of that communication, including the government and the platform.

From Salon

Holley questions whether Morgan and Lake based decisions on information the wider public wasn't privy to.

From BBC

He said he “wasn’t privy to the details” and that his hope was that “it would be worked out.”

From Los Angeles Times

Margaret, who was not privy to all the complexities of the situation, seemed puzzled by this sudden outcry for baking expertise.

From Literature

Penelope was sorry to have to be privy to this conversation, but alas, the idea that she could be used as a personal secretary had taken root in Lady Constance’s mind.

From Literature