forbidden words: privilege

privilege

noun

1. 1. a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed by a particular person or a restricted group of people beyond the advantages of most.
      Few people have access to the privileges of the very rich.

   2. the unearned and mostly unacknowledged societal advantage that a restricted group of people has over another group: male privilege;
      white privilege based on skin color;
      male privilege;
      children of privilege.

2. a special right, immunity, or exemption granted to persons in authority or office to free them from certain obligations or liabilities.
   It’s a privilege of a senator to speak in Congress without danger of a libel suit.

3. a grant to an individual, corporation, etc., of a special right or immunity, under certain conditions.

4. the principle or condition of enjoying special rights or immunities.
   Synonyms: liberty, freedom, license

5. any of the rights common to all citizens under a modern constitutional government.
   We enjoy the privileges of a free people.

6. an advantage or source of pleasure granted to a person.
   It’s my privilege to be here.

7. Stock Exchange.,  an option to buy or sell stock at a stipulated price for a limited period of time, including puts, calls, spreads, and straddles.

verb (used with object)

Other Word Forms

• privileger noun
• proprivilege adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of privilege¹

First recorded in 1125–75; (noun) Middle English; earlier privilegie, from Old French privilege, from Latin prīvilēgium originally, “a law (for or against an individual),” equivalent to prīvi- (combining form of prīvus “one’s own, private”) + lēg- ( legal ) + -ium -ium; (verb) Middle English privilegen, from Middle French privilegier, from Medieval Latin prīvilēgiāre, derivative of prīvilēgium

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
without prejudice, without dismissing, damaging, or otherwise affecting a legal interest or demand.

Synonym Study

Privilege, prerogative refer to a special advantage or right possessed by an individual or group. A privilege is a right or advantage gained by birth, social position, effort, or concession. It can have either legal or personal sanction: the privilege of paying half fare; the privilege of calling whenever one wishes. Prerogative refers to an exclusive right claimed and granted, often officially or legally, on the basis of social status, heritage, gender, etc.: the prerogatives of a king; the prerogatives of management. 

Related Words

• advantage 
• allowance 
• authority 
• authorization 
• benefit 
• concession 
• due 
• entitlement 
• exemption 
• freedom 
• immunity 
• license 
• opportunity 
• prerogative 
• right 

When To Use

Spelling tips for privilege The word privilege is hard to spell for two reasons. First, it is tempting to use an e in the place of one of the two is, as in privelege. Second, people often want to add a d after the g because of the way privilege is pronounced (priviledge). How to spell privilege: It’s a privilege to have two eyes (Is) and legs. This helps remind you that privilege is spelled with two is and the final syllable does not have a d.

from — Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words. (2025j). In Dictionary.com. 

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example sentences: privilege

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September 18, 2025
Hudson Valley, New York

This is one of the words/ phrases you can’t say in the new Trump Administration. See a comprehensive list at the Forbidden Words Project.

image: technicality argument for new england © Holly Troy 9.2025