privacy
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the state of being away from other people so that they cannot see or hear you.
the state of being secluded from the presence or view of others. Uncountable in this general sense.
Simple“He moved to a house in the countryside to enjoy more privacy.”
In context“The high garden walls were designed to ensure total privacy from the neighbors and the busy street beyond.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the right to keep your personal details and life secret from companies or the government.
freedom from unauthorized surveillance or the disclosure of personal information by organizations or the state.
Simple“You should check the privacy settings on your social media accounts.”
In context“The new legislation aims to protect digital privacy by restricting how corporations collect and sell user data.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
the act of keeping something secret or not sharing it with the public.
the quality of being confidential or kept secret from general knowledge.
Simple“The two leaders met in privacy to discuss the sensitive peace treaty.”
In context“The documents were handled with the utmost privacy to prevent any leaks before the official announcement.”
SynonymsAntonyms
Usage privacy policy · privacy concerns · privacy laws
“Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Ribeiro-Addy asked that people respect the privacy of Arday’s family, who “lost their son, their brother.”
“It added that the family had requested privacy while they "reconnect after this time apart".”
From private + -cy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.