Meaning of private in English | Powered by Free Dictionary API

noun

• A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.

• A doctor working in privately rather than publicly funded health care.

• (in the plural) The genitals.

• A secret message; a personal unofficial communication.

• Personal interest; particular business.

• Privacy; retirement.

• One not invested with a public office.

• (usually in the plural) A private lesson.

  Example: If you want to learn ballet, consider taking privates.

adjective

• Belonging to, concerning, or accessible only to an individual person or a specific group.

  Example: Her address is private; you can't have it.

• Not accessible by the public.

  Example: private property

• Not in governmental office or employment.

  Example: He quit public life, living quietly as a private citizen.

• Not publicly known; not open; secret.

  Example: The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private.

• Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded.

  Example: Can we go somewhere more private?

• Not traded by the public.

  Example: private corporation

• Secretive; reserved.

  Example: He is a very private person.

• (of a room in a medical facility) Not shared with another patient.

• Accessible only to the class itself or instances of it, and not to other classes or even subclasses.