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1. Dictionary

   private

   /ˈprʌɪvɪt/

   adjective

   • 1. belonging to or for the use of one particular person or group of people only: "all bedrooms have private facilities" Similar personalone's ownindividualparticularspecialexclusiveprivately ownedOpposite public
   • ▪ (of a conversation, activity, or gathering) involving only a particular person or group, and often dealing with matters that are not to be disclosed to others: "this is a private conversation" Similar confidentialstrictly confidentialsecrettop secretclassifiedunofficialoff the recordnot for publicationnot to be made publicnot to be disclosedclosetbackstageoffstageprivilegedone-on-onetête-à-têtecovertclandestinesurreptitiousin camerainformal:hush-hushOpposite openpublic
   • ▪ (of thoughts and feelings) not to be revealed to others: "she felt awkward at intruding on private grief" Similar intimatepersonalsecretinnermostinwardunspokenundeclaredundisclosedunvoicedsneakinghidden
   • ▪ (of a person) choosing not to reveal their thoughts and feelings to others: "he was a very private man" Similar reservedintrovertintrovertedself-containedreticentdiscreetuncommunicativenon-communicativemedia-shyunforthcomingsecretiveretiringungregariousunsocialunsociablewithdrawnsolitaryinsularreclusivehermit-likehermiticOpposite extrovert
   • ▪ (of a place) quiet and free from people who may interrupt: "can we go somewhere a little more private?" Similar secludedsecretquietundisturbedconcealedhiddenremoteisolatedout of the waysequesteredOpposite busycrowded
   • ▪ (especially of two people) alone and undisturbed by others: "we can phone from the library—we'll be private in there" Similar undisturbeduninterruptedwithout disturbancewithout interruptionaloneby ourselves
   • 2. (of a person) having no official or public role or position: "the paintings were sold to a private collector"
   • ▪ not connected with one's work or official position: "the ambassador visited the school in a private capacity" Similar unofficialpersonalnon-officialnon-publicOpposite official
   • 3. (of a service or industry) provided or owned by an individual or an independent, commercial company rather than the state: "this research was carried out by private industry" Similar independentnon-state-controllednon-state-runprivatizeddenationalizednon-publiccommercialprivate-enterpriseOpposite publicnationalizedstate-controlled
   • ▪ (of education or medical treatment) conducted outside the state system and charging fees to those who make use of it: "private education"
   • ▪ relating to or denoting a transaction between individuals and not involving commercial organizations: "it was a private sale—no estate agent's commission"

   noun

   • 1. the lowest rank in the army, below lance corporal or private first class.
   • 2. short for private parts informal

   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’.

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • P

     3

   • R

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   • I

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   • A

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishPRIVATE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   PRIVATE definition: 1. only for one person or group and not for everyone: 2. Private activities involve personal…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › privatePrivate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › private

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   The meaning of PRIVATE is intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class. How to use private in a sentence.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryPRIVATE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   PRIVATE meaning: 1. only for one person or group and not for everyone: 2. Private activities involve personal…. Learn more.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › privatePRIVATE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › private

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   removed from or out of public view or knowledge; secret: private papers. not open or accessible to the general public: a private beach. undertaken individually or personally: private research. without the presence of others; alone: Let's go into another room where we can be private. Synonyms: retired. solitary; secluded:

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishPRIVATE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Jun 16, 2024 · If you describe a place as private, or as somewhere where you can be private, you mean that it is a quiet place and you can be alone there without being disturbed. It was the only reasonably private place they could find.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishPRIVATE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   PRIVATE definition: 1. only for one person or group and not for everyone: 2. controlled by or paid for by a person or…. Learn more.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishprivate adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   not owned/run by state. [usually before noun] owned or managed by an individual person or an independent company rather than by the state. a private firm/business/hospital. The painting is now in a private collection. a former soldier working in private security.