privilege
privilege Lexical Profile
privilege Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.
"Senior students at the academy enjoy the privilege of leaving campus during lunch hours."
Something regarded as a rare opportunity and bringing particular pleasure or honor.
"It was a true privilege to hear the renowned cellist perform in such an intimate venue."
A legal right or immunity that protects a person from liability for defamation or from being compelled to disclose confidential communications.
"The defense attorney refused to turn over the correspondence, citing attorney-client privilege."
• verb
To grant a special right, priority, or advantage to a particular person, group, or concept over others.
"Traditional evaluation methods often privilege standardized test scores over creative problem-solving."
To exempt someone from a normal legal burden, duty, or liability.
"Diplomatic status privileges foreign ambassadors from local prosecution."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently misspelled as 'priviledge' due to the pronunciation of its second syllable and confusion with words like 'knowledge' or 'pledge'. In sociological and political contexts, 'privilege' specifically denotes unearned systemic advantages held by dominant social groups rather than an earned personal honor.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French privilege, from Latin privilegium ('a law or bill in favor of or against a specific individual'), compounded from privus ('individual, private') and lex, legis ('law').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.