Translate private | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of private
adjective
1belonging to or for the use of one particular person or group of people only:all bedrooms have private facilities his private plane (of a situation, activity, or gathering) affecting or involving only a particular person or group of people:a small private service in the chapel (of thoughts and feelings) not to be shared with or revealed to others:she felt awkward intruding on private grief (of a person) not choosing to share thoughts and feelings with others:he was a very private man (of a meeting or discussion) involving only a small number of people and dealing with matters that are not to be disclosed to others:this is a private conversation (of a place) quiet and free from people who can interrupt:can we go somewhere a little more private?
2(of a person) having no official or public role or position:the paintings were sold to a private collector not connected with one’s work or official position:he would continue to represent her in a private capacity as advisor and confidant
3(of a service or industry) provided or owned by an individual or an independent, commercial company rather than by the government:research projects carried out by private industry more than 1,400 state enterprises that were about to go private of or relating to a system of education or medical treatment conducted outside the system of government and charging fees to the individuals who make use of it. of, relating to, or denoting a transaction between individuals and not involving commercial organizations:it was a private sale—no agent’s commission
noun
1a soldier of the lowest rank, in particular an enlisted person in the US Army or Marine Corps ranking below private first class.
