noun
privacy
Freedom from unwanted observation or interference in personal matters.
She closes the curtains for privacy while she gets dressed.
Etymology
Privacy is formed from private, meaning withdrawn from public life or shared access. It names the condition of keeping personal affairs beyond unwanted observation or interference.
More examples
- Please respect my privacy and knock before entering.
- The clinic protects patients' privacy by keeping medical records secure.
- Sharing a bedroom leaves little privacy for personal phone calls.
Forms
private adjective — Not open to public observation or access.
Similar words
- seclusion
- Emphasizes being apart from others, often by choice.
- confidentiality
- Concerns keeping information secret rather than preventing personal intrusion.