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 of privacy

• solitude
• isolation

Examples of privacy in a Sentence

She went upstairs for some privacy.

Celebrities have a right to privacy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Addressing such concerns is very different from the familiar parallel in public policy debates over how AI raises such concerns for protecting privacy and intellectual property in the age of spiraling entrepreneurial opportunities and ferocious global competition. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 May 2026

The criminal cases underscore the growing use of AI chatbots for personal advice and the lack of privacy protections for those conversations. —Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 2 May 2026

The villas are rather close together—for more privacy, do the beachfront villas (201-212). —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2026

Given the complaint’s estimate that Temu is responsible for over 10,000 spam emails to Californians each year, the company encounters considerable potential liability in a state that is a primary battleground for digital privacy rights. —Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 1 May 2026

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