Privilege: meaning, definitions and examples

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privilege

 

[ ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

legal

A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.

Synonyms

advantage, benefit, entitlement

Examples of usage

  • Education is a privilege, not a right.
  • She was born into privilege and never had to worry about money.
Context #2 | Noun

social

A special opportunity to do something that brings particular pleasure or enjoyment.

Synonyms

honor, joy, pleasure

Examples of usage

  • It's a privilege to be able to travel the world and experience different cultures.
  • Working with children is a privilege, not a burden.
Context #3 | Verb

formal

To grant a privilege or privileges to; bestow a privilege or privileges on.

Synonyms

bestow, grant, honor

Examples of usage

  • The manager decided to privilege certain employees with extra benefits.

Translations

Translations of the word "privilege" in other languages:

🇵🇹 privilégio

🇮🇳 विशेषाधिकार

🇩🇪 Privileg

🇮🇩 hak istimewa

🇺🇦 привілей

🇵🇱 przywilej

🇯🇵 特権 (とっけん)

🇫🇷 privilège

🇪🇸 privilegio

🇹🇷 ayrıcalık

🇰🇷 특권 (teukkwon)

🇸🇦 امتياز

🇨🇿 privilegium

🇸🇰 privilégium

🇨🇳 特权 (tèquán)

🇸🇮 privilegij

🇮🇸 forréttindi

🇰🇿 артықшылық

🇬🇪 უფლება

🇦🇿 imtiyaz

🇲🇽 privilegio

Word origin

The word 'privilege' originated from the Latin word 'privilegium', which means 'law applying to one person'. In ancient Rome, a 'privilegium' was a law that applied to a specific individual or group, granting them special rights or immunities. Over time, the meaning of 'privilege' evolved to encompass a wider range of special rights or advantages granted to individuals or groups. Today, the concept of privilege is often debated in social, political, and legal contexts, with discussions around issues of inequality, discrimination, and access to opportunities.

See also: privileged, privileges.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,900, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.