I. pri ‧ vate 1 S1 W1 /ˈpraɪvət, ˈpraɪvɪt/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ privacy , ↑ private , ↑ privatization ; verb : ↑ privatize ; adverb : ↑ privately ; adjective : ↑ private ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: privatus , past participle of privare ; ⇨ ↑ deprive ]
1 . NOT FOR THE PUBLIC for use by one person or group, not for everyone OPP public :
Morris has a private jet.
He made some notes for his private use.
Many communists objected to any form of private property.
2 . NOT GOVERNMENT [only before noun] not related to, owned by, or paid for by the government OPP public :
a private hospital
There is private ownership of property in a market economy.
private education
go private British English (=pay for medical treatment instead of getting it free at a public hospital)
3 . FOR ONLY A FEW a private meeting, conversation etc involves only two people or a small number of people, and is not for other people to know about:
I need to have a private discussion with you.
Are you alone? I just wanted a private word.
4 . SECRET private feelings, information, or opinions are personal or secret and not for other people to know about:
Jack’s private opinion was that she was selfish.
Don’t read that – it’s private.
5 . NOT PUBLICLY KNOWN used about someone who is not known to the public or not working for the government or another organization:
a private citizen
The painting was sold to a private collector.
Seven police and three private individuals needed medical attention.
6 . NOT WORK separate from and not related to your work or your official position:
The president is paying a private visit to Europe.
He enjoys everything he does in both his professional and his private life.
7 . QUIET PLACE quiet and without a lot of people:
Why don’t we go upstairs where it’s more private?
8 . PERSON [only before noun] a private person is one who likes being alone, and does not talk much about their thoughts or feelings:
He’s a very private man.
9 . private joke a joke made between friends, family members etc that other people do not understand ⇨ privately
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THESAURUS
▪ private if something is private, you do not want most people to know about it because it concerns your feelings, your relationships etc:
He didn’t want to discuss his private life.
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What happens in the bedroom is strictly private.
▪ personal relating to your private life – used especially about problems, feelings, and questions:
They asked a lot of personal questions.
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She talked about her own personal feelings.
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I’d rather not talk about it – it’s personal.
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The singer has had a lot of problems in her personal life.
▪ secret [only before noun] used about feelings and thoughts that you do not tell anyone about:
Barclay had a secret desire to become an actor.
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His secret fear was that Jenny would leave him.
▪ intimate very private – used about things relating to your relationships and sexual feelings:
an intimate conversation
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Many people share intimate details of their lives on the Internet.
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their intimate moments together
▪ innermost [only before noun] your innermost feelings, thoughts etc are your most private ones:
Counselling often encourages you to reveal your innermost thoughts.
▪ be none of sb’s business if something is none of your business, it is private and you should not ask about it:
It’s none of your business how much I earn.
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‘Are you married?’ ‘That’s none of your business.’
II. private 2 BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ privacy , ↑ private , ↑ privatization ; verb : ↑ privatize ; adverb : ↑ privately ; adjective : ↑ private ]
1 . in private without other people being present:
I need to speak to you in private.
2 . [countable] a soldier of the lowest rank
3 . privates [plural] informal ↑ private parts