private

private [prī′vət]

adj.

[ME pryvat < L privatus, belonging to oneself, not to the state < privare, to separate, deprive < privus, separate, peculiar, prob. akin to OL pri: see PRIME]

1. of, belonging to, or concerning a particular person or group; not common or general [private property, a private joke]

2. not open to, intended for, or controlled by the public [a private school]

3. for an individual person [a private room in a hospital]

4. not holding public office [a private citizen]

5. away from public view; secluded [a private dining room]

6. not publicly or generally known; confidential [a private matter]

7. tending to keep one's personal matters to oneself [a private person]

8. carried out on an individual basis [private medical practice]

9. engaged in work independent of institutions, organizations, agencies, etc. [private detective, private tutor]

n.

1. [pl.] the genitals: also private parts

2. an enlisted person of either of the two lowest ranks in the U.S. Army or of the lowest rank in the U.S. Marine Corps

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go private

Finance to restore private ownership of a corporation by buying back publicly held stock

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in private

privately or secretly; not publicly

privately

adv.