privacy

noun

pri·​va·​cy ˈprī-və-sē 

 especially British  ˈpri-

plural privacies

1

a

: the quality or state of being apart from company or observation : seclusion

b

: freedom from unauthorized intrusion

one's right to privacy

2

a

: secrecy

b

: a private matter : secret

3

archaic : a place of seclusion

Synonyms

• aloneness
• insulation
• isolation
• secludedness
• seclusion
• segregation
• separateness
• sequestration
• solitariness
• solitude

Examples of privacy in a Sentence

She went upstairs for some privacy.

Celebrities have a right to privacy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meta includes a privacy indicator—a light that activates when recording—to alert bystanders, but the FBI has not confirmed whether this feature was operational in Jabbar's glasses. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025

No further details were made available and the family of The Vivienne, whose real name was James Lee Williams, asked for privacy. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2025

Our deepest condolences go out to her family and friends, who request the time and privacy required to grieve. —Lawrence Yee, People.com, 5 Jan. 2025

And state laws are a grab bag of various rules, mostly focused on data privacy in general. —Bernard Condon, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing privacy

• invade someone's privacy
• invasion of (someone's) privacy

Kids Definition

privacy

noun

pri·​va·​cy ˈprī-və-sē 

plural privacies

1

a

: the quality or state of being out of the sight and hearing of other people : seclusion

the privacy of the home

b

: freedom from being intruded upon

one's right to privacy

2

: secrecy sense 2

talk in privacy

Legal Definition

privacy

noun

pri·​va·​cy

: freedom from unauthorized intrusion : state of being let alone and able to keep certain especially personal matters to oneself see also expectation of privacy, invasion of privacy, privacy interest at interest sense 3b, right of privacy, Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade