Word
Definitions
01being alone or secluded
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of being away from other people so that they cannot see or hear you.
n. the state of being secluded from the presence or view of others. Uncountable in this general sense.
“He moved to a house in the countryside to enjoy more privacy.”
“The high garden walls were designed to ensure total privacy from the neighbors and the busy street beyond.”
02personal information and data
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Law
n. the right to keep your personal details and life secret from companies or the government.
n. freedom from unauthorized surveillance or the disclosure of personal information by organizations or the state.
“You should check the privacy settings on your social media accounts.”
“The new legislation aims to protect digital privacy by restricting how corporations collect and sell user data.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03secrecy or private matters
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of keeping something secret or not sharing it with the public.
n. the quality of being confidential or kept secret from general knowledge.
“The two leaders met in privacy to discuss the sensitive peace treaty.”
“The documents were handled with the utmost privacy to prevent any leaks before the official announcement.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “privacy” in context.
Verb
01. invade someone's privacy
“The paparazzi were accused of invading the actor's privacy by using drones to take photos.”
verb + possessive + noun
02. protect your privacy
“You should use a VPN and strong passwords to protect your privacy online.”
verb + possessive + noun
03. respect their privacy
“The family has asked the media to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
verb + possessive + noun
04. violate their privacy
“Reading someone's personal diary without permission is a serious way to violate their privacy.”
verb + possessive + noun
Adjective
05. complete privacy
“The high walls around the garden ensure complete privacy from the neighbors.”
adj + noun
06. personal privacy
“New laws were introduced to safeguard personal privacy in the digital age.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. privacy policy
“Please read our privacy policy to understand how we handle your data.”
noun + noun
08. invasion of privacy
“Many citizens feel that facial recognition technology is a major invasion of privacy.”
noun + of + noun
09. privacy settings
“It is important to check your social media privacy settings regularly.”
noun + noun
Preposition
10. in privacy
“The two world leaders met in privacy to discuss the sensitive peace treaty.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“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".” Etymology
From private + -cy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/privacy
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR