# privileged

/ˈpɹɪvɪɫədʒd/ (US) · /pɹˈɪvɪlɪdʒd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/privileged
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. socially advantaged

adjective · CEFR B2

having special rights, wealth, or advantages that other people do not have.

For teachers: possessing social, economic, or political advantages often unavailable to the general population.

- She grew up in a privileged family and attended the best private schools.
- The report highlights how students from privileged backgrounds continue to dominate high-ranking positions in the civil service.

### 2. legally protected

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing information that is legally protected and does not have to be shared in court.

For teachers: legally protected from discovery or disclosure in a court of law, typically due to the nature of the relationship between parties.

- The lawyer explained that their conversation was privileged and could not be used as evidence.
- The judge ruled that the internal emails were privileged and therefore exempt from the discovery process during the litigation.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'attorney-client privileged information'.

### 3. honoured

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

feeling very lucky or honoured to have a special opportunity.

For teachers: experiencing a sense of honour or gratitude for being granted a specific opportunity or experience.

- I felt very privileged to meet the president during his visit to our city.
- The researchers felt privileged to be the first team allowed into the ancient tomb since its discovery a decade ago.

## Examples

- The new law privileges the rights of homeowners over renters.
- The court must decide whether the internal emails are privileged under the rules of attorney-client confidentiality.
- By choosing to privilege anecdotal evidence over peer-reviewed data, the committee inadvertently undermined the scientific credibility of their final report.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.