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right to privacy

right to privacy

34 4.6
Freedom from other people entering your personal life without permission
  • noun
  • /raɪt tə ˈpraɪvəsi/
  • Formal
translation icon : derecho a la intimidad
  • Are researchers now being asked to do more to protect the subject's right to privacy?
  • protect the right to privacy
  • fundamental right to privacy
  • constitutional right to privacy

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Examples

  • Instead, the Court examined only whether the aerial surveillance itself compromised the right to privacy.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Surveillance aimed at subjugation was, in itself, a violation of the right to privacy.

    Academic text (1998)
  • What we need to discuss is the right to privacy.

  • But we have a right to privacy.

  • In recent years, the right to privacy has been added to the short list of human rights.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Besides, it would be an invasion of their right to privacy, for one thing.

  • And so as women, it's important for us to stand up for our right to privacy and to reproductive healthcare.

  • A core belief of intellectual freedom is the student's right to privacy and confidentiality.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Central to the Dutch constitution are the principles of non-discrimination and the right to privacy.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Many people believe that everyone has a right to privacy in their personal communications.

Synonyms

privacy
vsright to privacy
756 3.7

Freedom from being seen or watched by other people

is the legal entitlement that protects that condition from unauthorized interference
right of privacy
vsright to privacy
  • Formal
5 5.8

A right under the law to be left alone and not have personal matters made public

is the basic moral and legal freedom from unauthorized intrusion

Antonyms

183 4.1

Getting involved in a situation in a way that stops or slows progress

88 3.9

Making a secret or hidden thing known to people

85 6.6

Entering a place or someone's private life without permission

Surface Forms

Morphology

right + to + privacy

The meaning is directly compositional: 'right' (an entitlement) + 'to' + 'privacy' (freedom from intrusion) yields an entitlement to be free from unwanted intrusion. The 'right to + noun' pattern is common and parallels constructions in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will reliably understand this phrase.

Etymology

Right to privacy comes from the simple image of a closed door around your life; right means something you are allowed to have and privacy means your own space away from others. So it means 'the right to be free from unwanted attention or interference in your personal life'.