private

private is on the Basic English 850 List.

prison - private - probable

private is one of the 1000 most common headwords.

print - private - probable

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈpraɪvət/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

Positive private

Comparative more private

Superlative most private

1. Private is for only one person or a small number of people to see or know.

   I don't want to tell you how much money I have; that's private.

   Close the curtains so people can't look into our house, to make it private.

Related words

• privacy

Noun

Singular private

Plural privates

1. (countable) A private is a soldier in the lowest rank of the army.

   Put down your gun, private, and report to the general.