From Middle English privilege, from Anglo-Norman privilege and Old French privilege, from Latin prīvilēgium, from prīvus ("private") + lēx, lēg-.

• IPA: /ˈpɹɪv(ɪ)lɪd͡ʒ/

privilege

1. (ecclesiastical law, now, chiefly, historical) An exemption from certain laws granted by the Pope. [from 8th c.]
2. (countable) A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment. [from 10th c.]

   Synonyms: franchise, immunity, prerogative, right, freelage

   All first-year professors here must teach four courses a term, yet you're only teaching one! What entitled you to such a privilege?

3. An especially rare or fortunate opportunity; the good fortune (to do something). [from 14th c.]
4. (uncountable) The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society. [from 14th c.]

   Synonyms: advantage, foredeal

   • 1941, George Orwell, The Lion and the Unicorn, Pt. III:

     People who at any other time would cling like glue to their miserable scraps of privilege, will surrender them fast enough when their country is in danger.

   • 2013, The Guardian, 21 Oct, (headline):

     South Africa's 'miracle transition' has not put an end to white privilege.

5. A right or immunity enjoyed by a legislative body or its members. [from 16th c.]

   Synonyms: immunity

   • 2001, The Guardian, leader, 1 May:

     Dr Grigori Loutchansky is – according to a congressman speaking under congressional privilege – a "purported Russian mob figure".

6. (countable, US, finance, now, rare) A stock market option. [from 19th c.]
7. (legal) A common law doctrine that protects certain communications from being used as evidence in court.

   Your honor, my client is not required to answer that; her response is protected by attorney-client privilege.

8. (computing) An ability to perform an action on the system that can be selectively granted or denied to users.

   Synonyms: permission

• claim, liberty

• French: privilège
• Italian: privilegio

• French: privilège
• German: Privileg, Vergünstigung
• Italian: privilegio, prerogativa
• Portuguese: privilégio
• Russian: привиле́гия
• Spanish: privilegio

• Russian: право

privilege (privileges, present participle privileging; simple past and past participle privileged)

1. (archaic) To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize

   to privilege representatives from arrest

2. (archaic) To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.

• allege

• French: privilégier
• German: privilegieren
• Portuguese: privilegiar
• Spanish: privilegiar

• German: privilegieren
• Portuguese: privilegiar
• Spanish: privilegiar