privilege

noun

1. 1

   historicalAn exemption from certain laws granted by the Pope.

2. 2

   A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment.

   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.

3. 3

   An especially rare or fortunate opportunity; the good fortune (to do something).

   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.

4. 4

   The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society.

   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.

5. 5

   A right or immunity enjoyed by a legislative body or its members.

   Dr Grigori Loutchansky is – according to a congressman speaking under congressional privilege – a "purported Russian mob figure".

6. 6

   archaicA stock market option.

7. 7

   A common law doctrine that protects certain communications from being used as evidence in court.

   Your honor, my client is not required to answer that; her response is protected by attorney-client privilege.

8. 8

   An ability to perform an action on the system that can be selectively granted or denied to users.

verb

1. 1

   archaicTo grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize

   to privilege representatives from arrest

2. 2

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

3. 3

   To prioritize.

   “Rolling Stone” is spacious and ethereal but not directionless — it is R&B that privileges mood over structure, soft daubs of feeling over authoritative belting.

Forms

plural

privileges

past tense

privileged

past participle

privileged

present participle

privileging

third person singular

privileges