■ adjective
1》 for or belonging to one particular person or group only.
↘(of thoughts, feelings, etc.) not to be shared or revealed.
↘(of a person) not choosing to share their thoughts and feelings.
↘(of a place) secluded.
↘alone and undisturbed by others.
2》 (of a person) having no official or public position.
↘not connected with one's work or official position.
3》 (of a service or industry) provided or owned by an individual or commercial company rather than the state.
↘relating to a system of education or medical treatment conducted outside the state system and charging fees.
4》 relating to or denoting a transaction between individuals.
■ noun
1》 the lowest rank in the army, below lance corporal or ~ first class.
2》 ( ~s ) informal short for ~ parts .
Phrases
in ~ with no one else present.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
Origin
ME: from L. privatus 'withdrawn from public life', a use of the past participle of privare 'bereave, deprive', from privus 'single, individual'.