private
gb/pɹˈaɪvɪt/ us/pɹˈaɪvɪt/
A2
Anglais
~ 700
Sens
0 sens
adjective
A2
property
1
Not open to the public
For one person or group only, not for everyone.
Schéma d’usage :
a private [place/event/conversation]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'private' with 'personal'; 'private' usually means restricted access, while 'personal' means related to oneself.
Synonymes
exclusive (Emphasizes restricted access, often implying high status.)
Antonymes
public (Open and accessible to everyone.)
Collocations
private property
|private conversation
|private life
|private meeting
|private room
Thèmes
daily life
|privacy
|society
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The hotel has a private beach for guests only.
- They held a private meeting to discuss the merger.
- I need to make a private phone call.
Exemples pédagogiques
- This is my private room.
- We had a private talk.
- The garden is private.
adjective
B1
property
2
About personal life
About your own life, not work or public things.
Schéma d’usage :
private [life/matters/feelings]
Erreur fréquente :
Some learners overuse 'secret' instead of 'private', but 'secret' implies intentional hiding, while 'private' just means personal.
Synonymes
personal (Focuses more on individual identity and experiences.)
Antonymes
public (Concerning things known or shared by many people.)
Collocations
private life
|private feelings
|private matters
Thèmes
daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She doesn't like to talk about her private life in interviews.
- He kept his private feelings to himself.
- These are private matters between friends.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I don't talk about my private life.
- She keeps her private feelings secret.
- This is a private matter.
adjective
B1
property
3
Owned by individuals, not government
Owned by a person or company, not the government.
Schéma d’usage :
private [company/business/school]
Synonymes
independent (Stresses freedom from government control.)
Antonymes
public (Owned or run by the government.)
Collocations
private company
|private sector
|private school
Thèmes
business
|economics
|finance
Exemples
- He works for a private company in the tech sector.
- Private schools often have smaller class sizes.
- The private sector is growing quickly.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I work for a private company.
- She goes to a private school.
- This hospital is private.
adjective
A2
property
4
For one person's use only
Only for one person to use.
Schéma d’usage :
a private [bathroom/office/car]
Synonymes
personal (Focuses on belonging to one person specifically.)
Antonymes
shared (Used by more than one person.)
Collocations
private bathroom
|private office
|private parking
Thèmes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The suite includes a bedroom with a private bathroom.
- He enjoys having a private office at work.
- Guests have access to a private parking area.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I have a private bathroom.
- She has a private office.
- This car is private.
Nom
technical
B1
entity
5
Lowest army rank soldier
A soldier with the lowest job in the army.
Synonymes
soldier (General term; does not specify rank.)
Collocations
army private
|promoted from private
Thèmes
military
|politics
Exemples
- Private Johnson reported for duty at 0600 hours.
- He joined the army as a private and worked his way up.
- The sergeant ordered the privates to line up.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He is a private in the army.
- The private stands with other soldiers.
- Private Lee is young.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
private
API
GB/pɹˈaɪvɪt/
US/pɹˈaɪvɪt/
Syllabes et accentuation
private (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (private)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: private
Noun
- Base: private
- Plural: privates
Famille de mots
Expressions
go private
1/ɡˈoʊ pɹˈaɪvɪt/
fixed phrase
Change to private ownership/funding
To change from being run by the government to being run by a person or company.
Exemples
- The company decided to go private after years on the stock market.
- Some schools have gone private due to funding cuts.
keep something private
1/kˈip sˈʌmθɪŋ pɹˈaɪvɪt/
fixed phrase
Not share information publicly
To not tell other people about something.
Exemples
- I prefer to keep my finances private.
- She kept the news private until she was ready.
private parts
1/pɹˈaɪvɪt pˈɑɹts/
fixed phrase
Genital organs of the body
The sexual parts of your body that are usually covered by clothes.
Exemples
- Teach children that no one should touch their private parts without permission.
- He felt embarrassed when the doctor examined his private parts.
in private
1/ˈɪn pɹˈaɪvɪt/
fixed phrase
away from other people
when other people cannot see, hear, or join; not in public
Exemples
- They spoke in private about the issue.
- They argued loudly in public but later apologized in private.
- Please tell me in private if there’s a problem.
- If you have any questions, please ask me in private after class.
- The couple preferred to keep their problems in private.