private
private Lexical Profile
private Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Belonging to or intended for the use of one particular person or group of people only; not open or accessible to the general public.
"Please do not park in this lot, as it is reserved for private vehicles."
Confidential or kept secret from others; not intended to be shared, disclosed, or widely known.
"They stepped into the hallway to have a private conversation away from their colleagues."
Owned, managed, or funded by independent individuals or commercial companies rather than by the state or government.
"The city is partnering with several private enterprises to fund the new transit hub."
Quiet, undisturbed, and free from the presence or observation of other people.
"The cabin is situated in a private valley surrounded by dense pine forests."
Habitually reserved and choosing not to reveal one's thoughts, feelings, or personal affairs to others.
"Despite his fame as an actor, he remained a deeply private person throughout his life."
• noun
An enlisted soldier of the lowest military rank in an army or marine corps, ranking below a corporal.
"After completing basic training, the young private was assigned to a logistics battalion."
• Rhymes for private
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin 'privatus', meaning 'set apart from the state' or 'belonging to an individual', the past participle of 'privare' ('to bereave or deprive'), from 'privus' ('single, individual'). The military sense originated in the 16th century from the phrase 'private soldier', denoting an ordinary soldier without officer rank.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.