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privy

privy

42 8.7
Knowing secret information that few people have
  • adjective
  • /ˈprɪvi/
  • Formal
translation icon : enterado de
  • Mrs. Jones should not be privy to information from the first-grade teacher.
  • privy to a secret
  • privy to information
  • become privy to

So unfortunately, she just wasn't Privy to the conversations that we had.

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Examples

  • Even I am not privy to its records.

  • She felt privileged to be privy to the discussions about the surprise party.

  • You were the only person Privy to the experience of the dream itself.

  • I was not privy to that thought process.

  • No one except you is privy to the full scope of the Hours.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I'm not privy to their list of donors.

  • The American public was also privy to stories detailing the "atrocities" of Chinese life.

    Academic text (1999)
  • If it is true, it is most material and the jury ought to be privy to that knowledge, don't you think?

  • Yet, most doctoral students are not privy to the complexities of their advisor's position.

    Academic text (2001)
  • As a lawyer, he is privy to confidential information about his clients.

Synonyms

wise to
vsprivy
39 8.2

Aware of a secret or dishonest plan

is informed about secret or confidential things without implying dishonesty
in the know
vsprivy
  • Informal
20 8.1

A person who knows secret or new information most people do not have

is informed about secret or confidential matters not generally known

Antonyms

367 3.7

Not knowing about something or how it works

42 3.7

Not knowing about a subject or situation

Compounds

1 8.7

A group of advisers for a king, queen, or head of state

1 9.9

A senior UK government official who has an old title, no set duties, and sometimes has extra responsibilities

1 9.9

A money allowance for a king or queen to pay personal expenses separate from government money

How Informed

in the know
  • Informal
20 8.1
privy
  • Formal
42 8.7
informed
3.7
aware
2.7
unaware
175 2.9

Surface Forms

privy positive

Etymology

Privy comes from an old Latin root priv- meaning 'private' or 'set apart', the same idea you see in the English word private. So if you are privy to a matter, you are one of the few kept 'in private' and allowed to know the secret.