privileged
PRIHV-lihjd
Privileged (adj) means enjoying special rights, advantages, or treatment that others lack. Example: “He grew up in a privileged household with private tutors and staff.”
adj
1
Enjoying special rights, advantages, or treatment that others lack.
"He grew up in a privileged household with private tutors and staff."
"Only a privileged few were invited to the private screening."
"We feel privileged to live in a country with free libraries."
2
Legally protected from being disclosed or used as evidence.
"Communications with your lawyer are privileged and can't be used against you in court."
"The judge ruled that the letter was privileged and could not be read out."
"Conversations between a doctor and a patient are often treated as privileged information."
How to use privileged
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving special advantages others don't — or, legally, protected from disclosure.
Common pairings
privileged information
privileged background
legally privileged
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more privileged
- Superlative
- most privileged
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He grew up in a _____ household with private tutors and staff.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for privileged
See all rhymes for privileged →Frequently asked questions
What does “privileged” mean?
The word “privileged” means enjoying special rights, advantages, or treatment that others lack. In plain terms, having special advantages others don't — or, legally, protected from disclosure.
How do you pronounce “privileged”?
“Privileged” is pronounced PRIHV-lihjd (/ˈpɹɪv(ɪ)lɪd͡ʒd/ in IPA).
How do you use “privileged” in a sentence?
Here is “privileged” used in a sentence: “He grew up in a privileged household with private tutors and staff.”
What part of speech is “privileged”?
“Privileged” is an adjective.
Is “privileged” a common word?
“Privileged” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “privileged” have?
“Privileged” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: enjoying special rights, advantages, or treatment that others lack.
What is the difference between privileged and entitled?
Privileged describes someone enjoying special rights or advantages that others lack, which is a factual description of circumstance. Entitled describes an attitude, often negative, of believing one deserves special treatment, so a person can be privileged without being entitled, or entitled without being especially privileged.
What does privileged mean in a legal context?
In law, privileged information is legally protected from being disclosed or used as evidence, such as communications between a lawyer and client. This meaning is distinct from the social sense of having special advantages.
Is it correct to say privileged information or privileged communication?
Yes, both phrases are standard legal terminology referring to information or communication that is protected from forced disclosure in court, most commonly under attorney-client privilege.
