privileged

1 of 2

adjective

priv·​i·​leged ˈpriv-lijd How to pronounce privileged (audio)
ˈpri-və-
Synonyms of privilegednext
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

privileged

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of privilege entry 2

Examples of privileged in a Sentence

Adjective 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Controls include identity management, privileged access, isolation of critical components and resilience. — Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Running alongside the Reuss river, with uninterrupted views across the valley toward the surrounding peaks, your villa will occupy one of Andermatt’s most privileged locations. — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026 We had been gone for three weeks, privileged travelers on vacation, exactly like the others in the morning crowd. — Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026 That testimony later was criticized by a federal magistrate judge, who accused the FBI of numerous missteps, including a failure to filter out potentially privileged materials. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for privileged

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Phrases Containing privileged

Rhymes for privileged

See All Rhymes for privileged

Browse Nearby Words

privilege
privileged
privileged debt
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Cite this Entry

“Privileged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privileged. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on privileged

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