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

The filing also details ongoing litigation and regulatory matters, including the impact of evolving privacy and data protection laws on Axon's operations. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024

These e-commerce sites are operated under different terms and privacy policies than ABCNews.com. —Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024

This may include protecting people’s privacy, mitigating harmful biases, improving transparency or reducing environmental impact—a very hot topic in the news recently. —Eric Miquelon, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

In 2021, Chile became the first country to enshrine the right to neural privacy in its constitution. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024

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