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Definition of privates

privates

/ˈpɹaɪ.vɪts/
pri · vates
Adverb:privately
•
Plural:privates
•
Adjective:private
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privates Lexical Profile

privates Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Plural form of private; soldiers of the lowest military rank.

Example

"The drill sergeant instructed the newly arrived privates to line up for inspection."

2

A person's external reproductive organs (used euphemistically or informally).

Example

"The patient wore a hospital gown to keep his privates covered during the routine physical examination."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for privates

Word Nuance & Usage

When referring to external reproductive organs, 'privates' is a plural-only noun (pluralia tantum) used primarily in informal or euphemistic contexts. As the regular plural of 'private', it refers to enlisted military personnel of the lowest rank.

• Nearby Words

privateering
privately
privateness
privates
privatization
privatize
privet

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Privates. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/privates
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