private

B1 · Intermediate

adj. not meant to be known or seen by other people.

adj. intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person or group; not to be disclosed publicly.

“I need to have a private conversation with you about your performance.”

“The CEO held a private meeting with the board members to discuss the sensitive details of the upcoming merger.”

B1 · Intermediate

adj. quiet and hidden away from other people's view.

adj. protected from public view or disturbance; providing a high degree of seclusion.

“The hotel has a private beach where guests can relax away from the crowds.”

“They bought a house in a private cul-de-sac, hoping the lack of through-traffic would provide a safer environment for their children.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Military

n. a soldier with the lowest rank in the army.

n. the lowest enlisted rank in many armies, below a corporal or sergeant.

“Private Smith was assigned to guard the entrance to the base.”

“After completing basic training, the new recruits were promoted to the rank of private and assigned to their respective regiments.”

C1 · Advanced Plural noun Informal

n. a polite or indirect way to talk about a person's sex organs.

n. a plural-only euphemism referring to the external genitalia.

“The player was hit in the privates by the ball and had to leave the game.”

“The medical examiner noted several minor abrasions in the area of the victim's privates during the initial assessment.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Computing Informal

v. to change the settings on a social media account or post so only you or your friends can see it.

v. to restrict public access to digital content or a social media profile without deleting the data.

“She decided to private her Instagram account after she started looking for a new job.”

“The influencer chose to private several of her older videos following a wave of negative comments from anonymous users.”