privilege
C1Formal to neutral. Common in academic, social, and political discourse.
Definition
Meaning
A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.
A situation in which one is exempt from usual burdens or obligations, often resulting in unearned benefit; a special opportunity regarded as a pleasure or honour.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In contemporary usage, the word carries strong sociopolitical weight, often relating to systemic advantage based on race, gender, class, etc. Can also be a neutral legal term or denote a pleasant experience.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is the same. Usage in socio-political contexts is equally common. The verb form 'to privilege' (meaning to grant privilege or assign priority) is more established in American academic writing.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word increasingly implies unexamined or systemic advantage in social justice contexts.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to prominence in discussions of race and identity politics.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have the privilege of + -ingit is a privilege to + infinitiveprivilege + noun (verb)be privileged to + infinitiveVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A privilege to know (someone)”
- “Check your privilege”
- “Privilege of the floor (parliamentary procedure)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to special access rights in IT systems, or executive benefits like a company car.
Academic
Central concept in critical theory, sociology, and law (e.g., 'white privilege', 'epistemic privilege').
Everyday
Used to describe a special treat or honour ('It was a privilege to attend').
Technical
Legal term for a right to withhold evidence (e.g., 'legal professional privilege').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The law privileges the rights of the individual over the state.
- The current tax system unfairly privileges inherited wealth.
American English
- The algorithm privileges recent content over older posts.
- We must avoid privileging one narrative over all others.
adverb
British English
- The data is privilegedly held under strict confidentiality. (Rare)
- He spoke privilegedly, as one who had been there. (Rare/Archaic)
American English
- Information shared in therapy is privilegedly protected. (Rare/Legal)
adjective
British English
- He comes from a very privileged background.
- The committee heard privileged information in a closed session.
American English
- As a privileged member, you get early access to tickets.
- They led a privileged life, insulated from everyday struggles.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It is a great privilege to meet you.
- Having a garden is a real privilege in the city centre.
- Club members have the privilege of booking tickets one week early.
- She felt it was a privilege to work with such a talented team.
- The defence lawyer argued that the email was protected by legal privilege.
- We need to acknowledge our own privilege when discussing social inequality.
- The study deconstructs the unspoken privilege inherent in the education system.
- Parliamentary privilege allows MPs to speak freely in the House without fear of legal action.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PRIVATE LEGge (law) - a private law that gives a special advantage to a specific group.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRIVILEGE IS A SHIELD (it protects from common burdens). PRIVILEGE IS INVISIBLE CLOTHING (often unseen by the wearer).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'привилегия' in all contexts, as the Russian word can sound archaic or exclusively about Soviet-era nomenklatura. In social justice contexts, 'преимущество' or 'льгота' might be closer, but lack the systemic connotation.
- The verb 'to privilege' does not translate directly to 'привилегировать' (which is unnatural). Use 'отдавать предпочтение' or 'наделять особыми правами'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'priviledge' (incorrect).
- Using 'privilege' as a countable noun when it's often uncountable in abstract senses (e.g., 'He has a lot of privilege', not 'a lot of privileges').
- Confusing 'privilege' (systemic advantage) with 'privacy' (being left alone).
Practice
Quiz
In critical social theory, 'privilege' most often refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In its core meaning, it is neutral (e.g., 'attorney-client privilege'). The negative connotation arises in social justice contexts where it describes unexamined, often unfair, systemic advantages.
Yes, though more common in academic/professional writing. It means 'to grant a privilege to' or 'to assign special importance or priority to' (e.g., 'The system privileges speed over accuracy').
A right is considered universal, inherent, or legally guaranteed (e.g., human rights). A privilege is a special advantage granted to a specific person or group, and can often be revoked.
It's a reminder for someone to be aware that their own social advantages (e.g., from race, class, gender) may blind them to the experiences of less advantaged people, especially during debates on inequality.
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Cultural Topics
B2 · 47 words · Analyzing culture, society and identity.