privilege
UK /ˈpɹɪv.(ɪ.)lɪd͡ʒ/ · US /ˈpɹɪv.ɪ.lɪd͡ʒ/ noun, verb
Forms privileges privileging privileged priviledg priviledge
- noun (ecclesiastical law, now chiefly historical) An exemption from certain laws granted by the Pope.
- noun (countable) 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?”
- noun An especially rare or fortunate opportunity; the good fortune (to do something).
- noun (uncountable) The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society.
- noun A right or immunity enjoyed by a legislative body or its members.
- noun (countable, US, finance, now rare) A stock market option.
- noun (law) 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.”
- noun (computing) An ability to perform an action on the system that can be selectively granted or denied to users.
- verb (archaic, transitive) To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize “to privilege representatives from arrest”
- verb (archaic) To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.
- verb (transitive) To prioritize.
Synonyms
franchise immunity prerogative right charter freelage advantage foredeal stock option permission claim liberty perquisite exclusive right favor favour
Etymology
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”). Displaced native Old English frēols (“privilege, immunity”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity not enjoyed by others or by all; special enjoyment of a good, or exemption from an evil or burden; a prerogative; advantage; franchise.
- noun See Call, Put, Spread, etc. Breach of privilege. See under Breach.
- verb To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize; as, to privilege representatives from arrest.
- verb To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.
Etymology [F. privilège, L. privilegium an ordinance or law against or in favor of an individual; privus private + lex, legis, law. See Private, and Legal.]
Etymology [Cf. F. privilégier.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “privilege”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details