'Privilege' definitions:
Definition of 'privilege'
From: WordNet
noun
A special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
noun
A right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right); "suffrage was the prerogative of white adult males" [syn: prerogative, privilege, perquisite, exclusive right]
noun
(law) the right to refuse to divulge information obtained in a confidential relationship
verb
Definition of 'Privilege'
From: GCIDE
- Privilege \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.] [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- He pleads the legal privilege of a Roman. --Kettlewell. [1913 Webster]
- The privilege birthright was a double portion. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
- A people inheriting privileges, franchises, and liberties. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Stockbroker's Cant) See Call, Put, Spread, etc. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Privilege'
From: GCIDE
- Privilege \Priv"i*lege\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Privileged; p. pr. & vb. n. Privileging.] [Cf. F. privil['e]gier.] [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- To privilege dishonor in thy name. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver. [1913 Webster]
- He took this place for sanctuary, And it shall privilege him from your hands. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'privilege'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- accomplishment,
- advantage,
- allowance,
- appanage,
- ascendancy,
- authority,
- authorization,
- authorize,
- benefit,
- birthright,
- blank check,
- boon,
- carte blanche,
- certificate,
- certify,
- charter,
- concession,
- consent,
- copyright,
- deanship,
- diplomatic immunity,
- discharge,
- dispensation,
- empower,
- enable,
- enfranchise,
- entitle,
- excellence,
- exception,
- exemption,
- favor,
- franchise,
- freedom,
- give official sanction,
- give power,
- grant,
- greatness,
- immunity,
- incomparability,
- indulgence,
- inimitability,
- lead,
- leave,
- legalize,
- legislative immunity,
- legitimize,
- liberty,
- license,
- majority,
- one-upmanship,
- patent,
- permission,
- perquisite,
- precedence,
- predominance,
- predomination,
- preeminence,
- preponderance,
- prepotence,
- prepotency,
- prerogative,
- prestige,
- priority,
- ratify,
- release,
- right,
- right-of-way,
- sanction,
- seniority,
- skill,
- special favor,
- success,
- superiority,
- transcendence,
- transcendency,
- validate,
- virtuosity,
- warrant
Words containing 'Privilege'
- Privileged,
- Privileging,
- Breach of privilege,
- Privileged communication,
- Privileged debts,
- Privileged witnesses,
- Question of privilege,
- Water privilege,
- Writ of privilege,
- franking privilege,
- informer's privilege,
- journalist's privilege,
- privilege of the floor,
- marital communications privilege,
- privilege against self incrimination,
- attorney-client privilege,
- husband-wife privilege,
- physician-patient privilege,
- priest-penitent privilege