privilege — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An exemption from certain laws granted by the Pope.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Historical
   • Uncountable

2. A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Synonyms

   franchiseimmunityprerogativerightfreelage

   Examples

   All first-year professors here must teach four courses a term, yet you're only teaching one! What entitled you to such a privilege?

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   Special privileges should be reserved for family and village life, while steps should be taken to prevent families and family ownings from being broken up by inheritance.

3. An especially rare or fortunate opportunity; the good fortune (to do something).

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   I had the privilege to sit near him in the House for a small part of his Commons service and there was an additional device provided to aid his participation in debates.

4. The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   advantageforedeal

   Examples

   People who at any other time would cling like glue to their miserable scraps of privilege, will surrender them fast enough when their country is in danger.

   There is no complexity expressed in the feverish discussions of white privilege that periodically grips South Africa's chattering class.

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   South Africa's 'miracle transition' has not put an end to white privilege.

5. A right or immunity enjoyed by a legislative body or its members.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   immunity

   Examples

   Dr Grigori Loutchansky is – according to a congressman speaking under congressional privilege – a "purported Russian mob figure".

6. A stock market option.

   Usage

   • US usage
   • Archaic
   • Countable

   Synonyms

   stock option

7. A common law doctrine that protects certain communications from being used as evidence in court.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Your honor, my client is not required to answer that; her response is protected by attorney-client privilege.

8. An ability to perform an action on the system that can be selectively granted or denied to users.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   permission

Verb

1. To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Transitive

   Examples

   to privilege representatives from arrest

2. To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.

   Usage

   • Archaic

3. To prioritize.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

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   “Rolling Stone” is spacious and ethereal but not directionless — it is R&B that privileges mood over structure, soft daubs of feeling over authoritative belting.

Noun

1. a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all

   Broader terms

   advantagevantage

2. a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right)

   Synonyms

   prerogativeperquisiteexclusive right

   Broader terms

   right

   Examples

   suffrage was the prerogative of white adult males

3. (law) the right to refuse to divulge information obtained in a confidential relationship

   Broader terms

   right

Verb

1. bestow a privilege upon

   Synonyms

   favorfavour

   Broader terms

   permitallowletcountenance