privilege (ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ
)
Definitions
noun
- a benefit, immunity, etc, granted under certain conditions
- the advantages and immunities enjoyed by a small usually powerful group or class, esp to the disadvantage of others ⇒
one of the obstacles to social harmony is privilege
- any of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens of a country by its constitution
- the right of a lawyer to refuse to divulge information obtained in confidence from a client
- the right claimed by any of certain other functionaries to refuse to divulge information ⇒
executive privilege
- the rights and immunities enjoyed by members of most legislative bodies, such as freedom of speech, freedom from arrest in civil cases during a session, etc
- US stock exchange a speculative contract permitting its purchaser to make optional purchases or sales of securities at a specified time over a limited period of time See also call (sense 61) , put (sense 20) , spread (sense 24c) , straddle (sense 9)
verb (tr)
- to bestow a privilege or privileges upon
- (foll by from) to free or exempt
Word Origin
C12: from Old French privilēge, from Latin prīvilēgium law relevant to rights of an individual, from prīvus an individual + lēx lawSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
right,
benefit,
due,
advantage,
claim,
freedom,
sanction,
liberty,
concession,
franchise,
entitlement,
prerogative,
birthright,
Translations
- British English:
privilege
A privilege is a special right or advantage that only one person or group has....special privileges for government officials.ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ NOUN ...special privileges for government officials.
- Spanish:
privilegio
nm
- French:
privilège
nm
- German:
Privileg
nnt Privilegien
- Chinese: 特权 n
- Arabic: اِمْتِيَاز n
- Portuguese: privilégio nm
- Russian: привилегия nf
- Croatian: privilegija nf
- Czech: privilegium nnt
- Danish: privilegium nnt
- Dutch: privilege nnt
- Finnish: etuoikeus n
- Greek: προνόμιο nnt
- Italian: privilegio nm
- Japanese: 特権 n
- Korean: 특권 n
- Norwegian: privilegium nnt
- Polish: przywilej nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: privilégio nm
- European Spanish:
privilegio
nm
- Swedish: privilegium nnt
- Thai: อภิสิทธิ์ n
- Turkish: ayrıcalık n
- Vietnamese: đặc ân n
Usage examples
He had always been attracted to Western attitudes, and being in a position of privilege he had access to Western literature.
, A Song at Twilight (1989)For a government on the backfoot such a privilege should have been unthinkable.
India Today (2001)Ms. McQueen believes broadcasting is "not quite as grand a privilege as it used to be.
Globe and Mail (2003)The committee of 60 eventually agreed to allow Glasgow the privilege of having a kaki tree.
Glasgow Herald (2002)Or perhaps it was just that everything about him, from his carriage to the liveried servants, spoke of privilege.
, SHARPE'S TRAFALGAR (2001)