Definitions for: Privilege


[n] a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
[n] a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right); "suffrage was the prerogative of white adult males"
[n] (law) the right to refuse to divulge information obtained in a confidential relationship
[v] bestow a privilege upon
[v] grant a privilege to



Webster (1913) Definition: Priv"i*lege, n. [F. privil[`e]ge, L. privilegium an
ordinance or law against or in favor of an individual; privus
private + lex, legis, law. See Private, and Legal.]
1. A peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or
immunity not enjoyed by others or by all; special
enjoyment of a good, or exemption from an evil or burden;
a prerogative; advantage; franchise.

He pleads the legal privilege of a Roman.
--Kettlewell.

The privilege birthright was a double portion.
--Locke.

A people inheriting privileges, franchises, and
liberties. --Burke.

2. (Stockbroker's Cant) See Call, Put, Spread, etc.

Breach of privilege. See under Breach.

Question of privilege (Parliamentary practice), a question
which concerns the security of a member of a legislative
body in his special privileges as such.

Water privilege, the advantage of having machinery driven
by a stream, or a place affording such advantage. [ U. S.]


Writ of privilege (Law), a writ to deliver a privileged
person from custody when arrested in a civil suit.
--Blackstone.

Syn: Prerogative; immunity; franchise; right; claim; liberty.

Usage: Privilege, Prerogative. Privilege, among the
Romans, was something conferred upon an individual by
a private law; and hence, it denotes some peculiar
benefit or advantage, some right or immunity, not
enjoyed by the world at large. Prerogative, among the
Romans, was the right of voting first; and, hence, it
denotes a right of precedence, or of doing certain
acts, or enjoying certain privileges, to the exclusion
of others. It is the privilege of a member of Congress
not to be called in question elsewhere for words
uttered in debate. It is the prerogative of the
president to nominate judges and executive officers.
It is the privilege of a Christian child to be
instructed in the true religion. It is the prerogative
of a parent to govern and direct his children.


Priv"i*lege, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Privileged; p.
pr. & vb. n. Privileging.] [Cf. F. privil['e]gier.]
1. To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest
with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize; as, to
privilege representatives from arrest.

To privilege dishonor in thy name. --Shak.

2. To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption
from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.

He took this place for sanctuary, And it shall
privilege him from your hands. --Shak.

Synonyms: exclusive right, favor, favour, perquisite, prerogative

See Also: accord, advantage, allot, allow, attorney-client privilege, countenance, easement, grant, husband-wife privilege, informer's privilege, journalist's privilege, let, marital communications privilege, permit, physician-patient privilege, priest-penitent privilege, privilege of the floor, right, vantage

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animals beginning with u