private
187
3.7
- noun
- /ˈpraɪvɪt/
- You are a good shot, Private.
- Army private
- Marine private
- old private
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Watch on YouTubeThe Cook's going to make sandwiches for me, a private first class.
- The Cook's going to make sandwiches for me, a private first class.
- So things like Saving Private Ryan, an American Sniper, How accurate are their depictions of war?
- I've never seen his face like the I know he did Saving Private ride like ET, didn't he?
Examples
-
The First World War was over, and Private William Mortensen came home from fighting in Europe.
Academic text (1994) -
With your attitude, Private, I'm surprised you want to stay in the service.
Fiction book (1996) -
This guy's name was Private Abraham Brown, and this guy was Private Harry Stewart.
-
It's time for you to go back to your room, Private Rodriguez.
-
When I shipped for Targa as a private, I had no ambitious dreams of becoming Emperor.
Fiction book (1992) -
Vincent looked over at the nearly bald private, whom Vincent found to be an intelligent, pleasant fellow.
Fiction book (1990) -
Floyd excused Fariss's absence, but Private Lewis Fretwell faced a court martial at Fort Wool.
Academic text (2011) -
Private First Class Smith has just completed his training and is excited to start his first assignment.
-
The commanding officer praised the hard work of the privates in his battalion during the exercise.
-
Every private in the platoon received a letter of commendation for their bravery during the mission.
Synonyms
7
7.2
The lowest rank for a soldier in some armies
2
2.8
A person in the army or marines with the lowest rank
1
8.2
A soldier with the lowest rank in the US Army or Marines
Antonyms
Idioms
Compounds
151
1.9
A place where children learn that is not run by the government and costs money
75
3.7
A person hired to find facts about crimes or private matters who is not a police officer
36
2.8
Things you can move, like cars or jewelry, that belong to one person, not land
35
3.9
Work of a doctor or lawyer who has their own office and does not work for an organization
- Specialized
12
3.7
A company owned by a small group whose shares are not sold to the public
- Specialized
6
4.8
A charity that gets most of its money from one person or company
2
3.3
A road owned by a person or company that leads to a house and is not for public use
1
3.9
A group of guards a company or person hires to protect people and property
1
3.7
A person who teaches one student or a small group outside school, often at home
1
6.1
Relating to businesses owned and run by people or companies to make profit, not the state
- Specialized
1
7.2
A sale of property agreed directly between buyer and seller without an auction
How Senior
Surface Forms
Etymology
Private as a noun for a soldier comes from Latin privatus, meaning 'not public' or 'set apart', so a private was an ordinary person without an official post, which is why the word names the lowest rank.