privilege

An exemption from certain laws granted by the Pope.

Noun

  1. An exemption from certain laws granted by the Pope.
  2. A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment.
    • All first-year professors here must teach four courses a term, yet you're only teaching one! What entitled you to such a privilege?
    • 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. - 2001, Paul H. Kratoska, South East Asia,...

    Synonyms: franchise immunity prerogative right freelage

  3. An especially rare or fortunate opportunity; the good fortune (to do something).
    • 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. - 2012, The Observer, letter, 29 April:
  4. The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society.
    • 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. - 1941, George Orwell, The Lion and the Unicorn, Pt. III:
    • There is no complexity expressed in the feverish discussions of white privilege that periodically grips South Africa's chattering class. - 2013 October 21, Azad Essa, “South Africa's 'miracle transition' has not put an...
    • South Africa's 'miracle transition' has not put an end to white privilege. - 2013, The Guardian, 21 Oct, (headline)

    Synonyms: advantage foredeal

  5. A right or immunity enjoyed by a legislative body or its members.
    • Dr Grigori Loutchansky is – according to a congressman speaking under congressional privilege – a "purported Russian mob figure". - 2001, The Guardian, leader, 1 May

    Synonyms: immunity

  6. A stock market option.
  7. A common law doctrine that protects certain communications from being used as evidence in court.
    • 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.

    Synonyms: permission

Origin

From Middle English privilege, from Anglo-Norman privilege and Old French privilege, from Latin prīvilēgium (“ordinance or law against or in favor of an individual”), from prīvus (“private”) + lēx, lēg- (“law”).

Forms

privileges priviledg priviledge

Synonyms

claim liberty

Derived

absolute privilege attorney-client privilege check your privilege cis privilege cisprivilege cis-privilege deprivilege disprivilege executive privilege exorbitant privilege green privilege immune privilege immunoprivilege jester's privilege legal professional privilege opinion privilege passport privilege Pauline privilege point of privilege pretty privilege privilege day privilegee privilege escalation privileger

Verb

  1. To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize
    • 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.
  3. To prioritize.
    • “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. - 2022 July 20, Jon Caramanica, “R&B That Sweats,...

Forms

privileges privileging privileged priviledg priviledge

Related

allege