View synonyms for

privy

[ priv-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

privier, priviest.

participating in the knowledge of something private or secret (usually followed by to ):
Many persons were privy to the plot.
private; assigned to private uses.
belonging or pertaining to some particular person, especially with reference to a sovereign.
secret, concealed, hidden, or secluded.
acting or done in secret.

noun

plural privies.

outhouse ( def 1 ).
Law. a person participating directly in or having a derivative interest in a legal transaction.

privy

/ ˈ��ɪ��ɪ /

adjective

postpositivefoll byto participating in the knowledge of something secret
archaic.
secret, hidden, etc
archaic.
of or relating to one person only

noun

a lavatory, esp an outside one
law a person in privity with another See privity

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Word History and Origins

Origin of privy¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English prive, from Old French: “private” (adjective), “close friend, private place” (noun), from Latin ��ī��ٳܲ� private

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Word History and Origins

Origin of privy¹

C13: from Old French ��é something private, from Latin ��ī��ٳܲ� private

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Then again, when it comes to diplomacy, we are not privy to all the conversations taking place behind closed doors or to the details of possible deals under discussion.

From

As a YA author who primarily writes from the perspective of teenage girls, I’ve been privy to many conversations about “un/likable female protagonists.”

From

Neither were they privy to the days when she tackled the most acute personal struggles, alone behind closed doors.

From

“It was very fun mapping that out and imagining the closed-door conversations that I’m not privy to,” he says.

From

Francesca agreed that she had a "sense of paranoia" while filming, but watching back on TV she could see conversations she hadn't been privy to and understood more about what had happened.

From

priv. pr.privy chamber

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