privileged

UK: /ˈprɪvəlɪdʒd/

US: /ˈprɪvəlɪdʒd, ˈprɪvlɪdʒd/

US: (priv′ə lijd, priv′lijd)

From the verb privilege: (⇒ conjugate)

privileged is: ⓘ

v past

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

priv•i•leged /ˈprɪvəlɪdʒd, ˈprɪvlɪdʒd/   adj. 

1. belonging to a class that enjoys privileges.
2. restricted to a select group or an individual:
   privileged information.
3. Law (of statements or communications) confidential;
   protected from prosecution for libel or slander, or from being used or subpoenaed as evidence in court.

See -priv-, -leg-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

priv•i•leged  (priv′ə lijd, priv′lijd), adj. 

1. belonging to a class that enjoys special privileges;
   favored:
   the privileged few.
2. entitled to or exercising a privilege.
3. restricted to a select group or individual:
   privileged information; a privileged position.
4. Law (of utterances or communications)
   • not rendering the person making them liable to prosecution for libel or slander, in view of the attendant circumstances.
   • not requiring any testimony concerning them to be presented in court.
5. Nautical, Naval Terms [Navig.] (of a vessel) having the right of way. Cf. burdened. 

• 1350–1400; Middle English; see privilege, -ed², -ed³

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

privileged / ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒd/ adjective

1. enjoying or granted as a privilege or privileges
2. not actionable as a libel or slander
3. (of a communication, document, etc) that a witness cannot be compelled to divulge

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

priv•i•lege /ˈprɪvəlɪdʒ, ˈprɪvlɪdʒ/   n. 

1. a special right or exemption granted to persons in authority that frees them from certain obligations:
   [uncountable] The president claimed executive privilege.
2. the principle or condition of enjoying special rights or advantages:
   [uncountable] a life of wealth and privilege.
3. a right or advantage that one enjoys, as because of a job:
   [countable] had special parking privileges for as long as she wanted them.
4. an advantage or source of pleasure granted to a person:
   [countable] It's my privilege to be here.

See -priv-, -leg-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

priv•i•lege  (priv′ə lij, priv′lij), n., v., -leged, -leg•ing. 
n. 

1. a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most:
   the privileges of the very rich.
2. 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.
3. a grant to an individual, corporation, etc., of a special right or immunity, under certain conditions.
4. the principle or condition of enjoying special rights or immunities.
5. any of the rights common to all citizens under a modern constitutional government:
   We enjoy the privileges of a free people.
6. an advantage or source of pleasure granted to a person:
   It's my privilege to be here.
7. [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. 

8. to grant a privilege to.
9. to exempt (usually fol. by from).
10. 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 (
• Old French privilege)
• 1125–75; (noun, nominal) Middle English; earlier privilegie (

priv′i•leg•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. Privilege, 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. license, freedom, liberty.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

privilege / ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ/ noun

1. a benefit, immunity, etc, granted under certain conditions
2. 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
3. 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 call61, put20, spread24c, straddle9

verb (transitive)

1. to bestow a privilege or privileges upon
2. (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