privileged

adjective

priv·​i·​leged ˈpriv-lijd How to pronounce privileged (audio)
ˈpri-və-
1
: having or enjoying one or more privileges
privileged classes
2
: not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance
especially : not subject to disclosure in a court of law
a privileged communication

Examples of privileged in a Sentence

He comes from a very privileged background. The town attracts people who are wealthy and privileged. The President's adviser has a privileged position of trust. She had privileged access to the files. Only the privileged few can become members of the club.
Recent Examples on the Web Many assumed that the authorities would not risk overt moves toward repression that might backfire and thus jeopardize their privileged lives. Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2024 For the privileged few who have had the opportunity to journey into space, missions typically range from a couple of weeks to six months, with rare instances lasting a year or more. George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 Your book focuses on privileged high school students trying to get into elite colleges. Mackenzie McCarty, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024 Marks and Kondo neither soften their depiction of customs unavoidably extreme to the modern gaze, like the shocking frequency of ritual suicide, nor treat Blackthorne as a privileged source of judgment or insight. Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Feb. 2024 Morton’s privileged but stifling youth in a wealthy, light-skinned New Orleans family is sketched in a series of numbers that efficiently establish the expectations of the Creole class and his rebellions against it. Jesse Green, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Engineers are often still seen as a privileged class within tech companies and the wider economy. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 22 Feb. 2024 War correspondents have privileged opportunities to observe the course of a conflict and shape the popular understanding of the key events and actors involved. Jennet Conant, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Too many millions have been spent on underutilized bike lanes that cater to a small but privileged group of people. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'privileged.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of privileged was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near privileged

Cite this Entry

“Privileged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privileged. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

privileged

adjective
priv·​i·​leged
ˈpriv(-ə)-lijd
: having more things and a better chance in life than most people
privileged classes of society

Legal Definition

privileged

adjective
priv·​i·​leged
: not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance
especially : not subject to disclosure especially in an adjudicative proceeding
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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