privilege
/ˈpɹɪv.ɪ.lɪd͡ʒ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.20 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment.
Countable
noun
An especially rare or fortunate opportunity; the good fortune (to do something).
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society.
Uncountable
noun
A common law doctrine that protects certain communications from being used as evidence in court.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "All first-year professors here must teach four courses a term, yet you're only teaching one! What entitled you to such a privilege?"
- "Special privileges should be reserved for family and village life, while steps should be taken to prevent families and family ownings from being broken up by inheritance."
- "I had the privilege to sit near him in the House for a small part of his Commons service and there was an additional device provided to aid his participation in debates."
- "People who at any other time would cling like glue to their miserable scraps of privilege, will surrender them fast enough when their country is in danger."
- "There is no complexity expressed in the feverish discussions of white privilege that periodically grips South Africa's chattering class."
- "South Africa's 'miracle transition' has not put an end to white privilege."
Etymology
From Middle English privilege, from Anglo-Norman privilege and Old French privilege, from Latin prīvilēgium (“ordinance or law against or in favor of an individual”), from prīvus (“private”) + lēx, lēg- (“law”). Displaced native Old English frēols (“privilege, immunity”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: privilege, prīvilēgium
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpɹɪv.ɪ.lɪd͡ʒ/
- British English: /ˈpɹɪv.(ɪ.)lɪd͡ʒ/
Usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- American usage
- Archaic
- Transitive verb