/ ˈpraɪvət; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
NOT PUBLIC
1.
[ usually before noun ] belonging to or for the use of a particular person or group; not for public use :
The sign said, 'Private property. Keep out.'
Those are my father's private papers.
The hotel has 110 bedrooms, all with private bathrooms.
CONVERSATION / MEETING
2.
intended for or involving a particular person or group of people, not for people in general or for others to know about :
a private conversation
They were sharing a private joke.
Senior defence officials held private talks.
FEELINGS / INFORMATION
3.
that you do not want other people to know about;
SYN secret :
her private thoughts and feelings
NOT OWNED / RUN BY STATE
4.
[ usually before noun ] owned or managed by an individual person or an independent company rather than by the state :
private banks / companies / schools
a programme to return many of the state companies to private ownership
OPP public
5.
[ only before noun ] working or acting for yourself rather than for the state or for a group or company, especially in health or education :
private doctors
( BrE )
If I can afford it, I think I'll go private (= pay for medical care rather than use the government service) .
NOT WORK
6.
[ usually before noun ] not connected with your work or official position :
a politician's private life
QUIET
7.
where you are not likely to be disturbed; quiet :
Let's go somewhere a bit more private.
OPP public
PERSON
8.
[ usually before noun ] not wanting to share thoughts and feelings with other people :
He's a very private person.
LESSONS
9.
[ usually before noun ] given by a teacher, etc. to one person or a small group of people for payment :
She gives private English lessons at weekends.
MONEY
10.
that you receive from property or other sources but do not have to earn :
He has a private income.
► pri·vate·ly adverb :
Can we speak privately?
In public he supported the official policy, but privately he was sure it would fail.
a privately owned company
Their children were educated privately.
She smiled, but privately she was furious.
■ noun
1.
[ C ] ( abbr. Pte ) ( BrE ) a soldier of the lowest rank in the army :
Private (John) Smith
2.
privates [ pl. ] ( informal ) = private parts
•
IDIOMS
- in private
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (originally denoting a person not acting in an official capacity): from Latin privatus withdrawn from public life, a use of the past participle of privare bereave, deprive, from privus single, individual.