Collocations for "private"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "private" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
private
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- this is private property
- a private [terrace, pool, entrance]
- [went to, attended] private school
- [went to] a private university
- [gives, is taking, has] private lessons
- has a private practice in
- this is a private party
- (largest, most valuable] private collection of
- works in the private sector
- (your) private income
- hired a private [investigator, detective]
- a private [paper, document, report]
- is a private [conversation, matter, affair] (between)
- had private business with him
- have a private message for
- private message me (later)
- for your private [use, enjoyment]
- my [sister, wife, cousin, friend] is a very private person
- private and [confidential, corporate]
- military: a [fresh, new, young] private
- military: [recruited, drafted, enlisted] as a private
- military: a private in the [British, French] army
- the rank of Private (First Class)
- was [hit, whacked, kicked] in his privates
- [wash, clean, scrub, scratch] your privates
- [protected, flashed, showed] his privates
'private' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
acquisition
- activity
- affair
- agency
- aircraft
- airplane
- asset
- attorney
- audience
- audit
- balcony
- bath
- boat
- body
- born
- buck
- butler
- cab
- cabin
- cache
- capital
- catering
- club
- collection
- college
- commercial
- confer
- consulation
- consult
- consultant
- consulting
- contest
- contractor
- corporate
- corporation
- correspondence
- courtyard
- covenant
- dancer
- diary
- disclosure
- discuss
- donor
- driveway
- dwelling
- earn
- educate
- education
- elementary
- enlist