1
a
: intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class
a private park
b
: belonging to or concerning an individual person, company, or interest
a private house
c(1)
: carried on by the individual independently of the usual institutions
a doctor in private practice
also
: being educated by independent study or a tutor or in a private school
private students
(2)
: restricted to the individual or arising independently of others
private opinion
d
: not general in effect
a private statute
e(1)
: accommodating only one patient
The private patient room, once a luxury for the privileged few, is about to become the standard for the nation's hospitals, as evidence mounts that shared rooms lead to higher infection rates, more medical errors, privacy violations and harmful stress.—
Laura Landro
Laura Landro
(2)
: staying or recovering in a room accommodating only one patient
private hospital patients
compare semiprivate sense 2
2
a(1)
: not related to one's official position : personal
private correspondence
(2)
: not holding public office or employment
a private citizen
b
: being a private
3
4
: not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market
a private company
privately
adverb
privateness
noun
1
a
: an enlisted person of the lowest rank in the marine corps or of one of the two lowest ranks in the army
b
: a person of low rank in any of various organizations (such as a police or fire department)
2
3
archaic
: one not in public office
4
obsolete
: privacy
Synonyms
Examples of private in a Sentence
Adjective
It was the first time many had seen works from the artist's private collection.
At work he was always very serious, but in his private life, he was actually very funny and relaxed.
Please keep all my personal information private.
He's a very private person.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Youth sports is becoming bigger business: Venture capital and private equity companies are pouring money into the sector to create apps for parents, athletes and recruiters, and to capitalize on plentiful smartphones and the emergence of AI to get every game streamed.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024
Twenty-year-old Army private Vanessa Guillén was fatally beaten with a hammer by a fellow soldier at their Texas post in April 2020.
—Kyler Alvord, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
The comedian posted a video on Instagram showing herself dancing alongside the two while in a private box at the concert.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Youth sports is becoming bigger business: Venture capital and private equity companies are pouring money into the sector to create apps for parents, athletes and recruiters, and to capitalize on plentiful smartphones and the emergence of AI to get every game streamed.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
According to a Union private’s memoir, his unit discovered the body of an anonymous woman who’d fought on the Confederate side at Antietam; the soldiers buried her separately from her male comrades.
—Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024
Twenty-year-old Army private Vanessa Guillén was fatally beaten with a hammer by a fellow soldier at their Texas post in April 2020.
—Kyler Alvord, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private
Articles Related to private
Dictionary Entries Near private
Cite this Entry
“Private.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
private
1 of 2 adjective
pri·vate
ˈprī-vət 
1
: having to do with or for the use of a single person or group : not public
private property
a private beach
2
a
: not holding any public office
a private citizen
b
: not relating to one's official position : personal
private letters
your own private opinion
3
: not known or meant to be known publicly
private meetings
keep personal information private
4
: not under public control
a private school
privately
adverb
privateness
noun
private
2 of 2 noun1
plural
: private parts
2
: a person of low or lowest rank in an organized group (as a police or fire department)
especially
: an enlisted person of the lowest ranks in the army or marine corps
Medical Definition
private
adjective
pri·vate
ˈprī-vət
1
: accommodating only one patient
a private patient room
also
: staying or recovering in a room accommodating only one patient
private hospital patients
compare semiprivate
2
: of, relating to, or being private practice
a private office
a private practitioner
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