participating in the knowledge of something private or secret (usually followed by to ). Many persons were privy to the plot. 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. private; assigned to private uses. belonging or pertaining to some particular person, especially with reference to a sovereign. belonging or pertaining to some particular person, especially with reference to a sovereign. secret, concealed, hidden, or secluded. secret, concealed, hidden, or secluded. acting or done in secret. acting or done in secret. Law. a person participating directly in or having a derivative interest in a legal transaction. Law. a person participating directly in or having a derivative interest in a legal transaction. participating in the knowledge of something secret participating in the knowledge of something secret archaic secret, hidden, etc archaic secret, hidden, etc archaic of or relating to one person only archaic of or relating to one person only a lavatory, esp an outside one a lavatory, esp an outside one law a person in privity with another See privity law a person in privity with another See privity Other Word Forms Noun Inflected Forms Origin of privy First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English prive, from Old French: “private” (adjective), “close friend, private place” (noun), from Latin prīvātus private If you're privy to something, you've been let in on a secret or know about something that most people don't. Not many people are privy to what those top secret documents are all about, for example. The adjective privy comes from the Latin privatus , meaning “private,” and describes someone who has knowledge of secret or confidential information. But watch out: If you use privy as a noun, it can mean “outhouse” or “toilet,” which actually might be a good place to hide your diary if you don't want anyone else to be privy to its contents. Vocabulary lists containing privy The Great Gatsby Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide! "The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use! Their Eyes Were Watching God Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time! Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. See Examples For: “I am not privy to talk about that,” she told a reporter, explaining that negotiations were still being worked out by U.S. From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026 I am not now privy to the thinking of Yale administrators and trustees. From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026 The Senate passed a resolution in April banning lawmakers in the upper chamber, and their staff who are often privy to sensitive information, from betting on Kalshi and Polymarket. From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026 "I have this afternoon issued a letter signed by Jeffrey Donaldson to the Privy Council office tendering his resignation from the privy council with immediate effect," the statement continued. From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026 She’d been privy to his consultations with every member of the crew, but she knew she was seeing only fragments of his plan. From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo Three indoor privies were lighted by skylights and ingeniously ventilated by a 150-foot-long lateral tunnel that drew in air and discharged it through adjoining chimneys, providing a continuous draft. From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026 I never followed up to learn whether it was in time to restock the park privies . From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2023 The nitre beds were large rectangles of rotted manure and straw, moistened weekly with urine, “dung water,” and liquid from privies, cesspools and drains, and turned over regularly, according to accounts at the time. From Washington Post ● Jul. 9, 2020 Some of the nobles who lived in the palace or its grounds would use the hallways to relieve themselves instead of the privies because the latter were so inadequate and far from their rooms. From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2020 It’s a small building, not much bigger than the privies we passed a little ways back, and Gideon turns to Bill when we arrive. From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland An thou wilt have it so, be it in my house, for there it will be privier both for me and for thee. From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 06 by Sir Richard Francis Burton Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer. You'll remember them forever.