a special right or exemption granted to persons in authority that frees them from certain obligations:[uncountable]The president claimed executive privilege.
the principle or condition of enjoying special rights or advantages:[uncountable]a life of wealth and privilege.
a right or advantage that one enjoys, as because of a job:[countable]had special parking privileges for as long as she wanted them.
an advantage or source of pleasure granted to a person:[countable]It's my privilege to be here.
priv•i•lege(priv′ə lij, priv′lij),USA pronunciationn., v.,-leged, -leg•ing. n.
a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most:the privileges of the very rich.
a special right, immunity, or exemption granted to persons in authority or office to free them from certain obligations or liabilities:the privilege of a senator to speak in Congress without danger of a libel suit.
a grant to an individual, corporation, etc., of a special right or immunity, under certain conditions.
the principle or condition of enjoying special rights or immunities.
any of the rights common to all citizens under a modern constitutional government:We enjoy the privileges of a free people.
an advantage or source of pleasure granted to a person:It's my privilege to be here.
[Stock Exchange.]an option to buy or sell stock at a stipulated price for a limited period of time, including puts, calls, spreads, and straddles.
v.t.
to grant a privilege to.
to exempt (usually fol. by from).
to authorize or license (something otherwise forbidden).
Medieval Latin prīvilēgiāre, derivative of prīvilēgium
Middle French privilegier)
Latin prīvilēgium origin, originally, a law for or against an individual, equivalent. to prīvi- (combining form of prīvus one's own) + lēg- (see legal) + -ium -ium; (verb, verbal) Middle English privilegen (
1.See corresponding entry in UnabridgedPrivilege,prerogative refer to a special advantage or right possessed by an individual or group. A privilege is a right or advantage gained by birth, social position, effort, or concession. It can have either legal or personal sanction:the privilege of paying half fare; the privilege of calling whenever one wishes.Prerogative refers to an exclusive right claimed and granted, often officially or legally, on the basis of social status, heritage, sex, etc.:the prerogatives of a king; the prerogatives of management.
4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged license, freedom, liberty.
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
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 alsocall61, put20, spread24c, straddle9
(transitive)
to bestow a privilege or privileges upon
(followed by from)to free or exempt
Etymology: 12th Century: from Old French privilēge, from Latin prīvilēgium law relevant to rights of an individual, from prīvus an individual + lēx law
'privilege' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: had the privilege of [being, working with, using], it was a privilege to meet you, it was a privilege [working, playing] with you, more...
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