PRIVILEGED

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does privileged mean? 

• PRIVILEGED (adjective)
  The adjective PRIVILEGED has 3 senses:

1. blessed with privileges

2. not subject to usual rules or penalties

3. confined to an exclusive group

  Familiarity information: PRIVILEGED used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRIVILEGED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Blessed with privileges

Context example:

the privileged few

Similar:

sweetheart (privileged treatment of a favored person or corporation (sometimes unethically))

Also:

fortunate (having unexpected good fortune)

rich (possessing material wealth)

Antonym:

underprivileged (lacking the rights and advantages of other members of society)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Not subject to usual rules or penalties

Context example:

a privileged statement

Similar:

exempt ((of persons) freed from or not subject to an obligation or liability (as e.g. taxes) to which others or other things are subject)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Confined to an exclusive group

Synonyms:

inner; inside; privileged

Context example:

privileged information

Similar:

exclusive (excluding much or all; especially all but a particular group or minority)

 Context examples 

These are conditions which, considering everything, I had no hesitation in complying with, as far as I thought myself privileged, for you.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

We took things much more easily in the Commons than they could be taken anywhere else, he observed, and that set us, as a privileged class, apart.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

To be privileged to put my arms round what I value—to press my lips to what I love—to repose on what I trust: is that to make a sacrifice?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

We have been privileged, he cried, strutting about like a gamecock, to be present at one of the typical decisive battles of history—the battles which have determined the fate of the world.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Silver, I should say, was allowed his entire liberty, and in spite of daily rebuffs, seemed to regard himself once more as quite a privileged and friendly dependent.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

We invalids think we are privileged people.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Still, however, Fanny was oppressed and wearied; he saw it in her looks, it could not be talked away; and attempting it no more, he led her directly, with the kind authority of a privileged guardian, into the house.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

They felt and they deplored—but they could not resent it; and they parted, endeavouring to hope that such a change in the general, as each believed almost impossible, might speedily take place, to unite them again in the fullness of privileged affection.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

There was no difference between him and the man who had stood on the steps at Lyme, admiring Anne as she passed, except in the air and look and manner of the privileged relation and friend.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Mrs. Bennet was privileged to whisper it to Mrs. Phillips, and she ventured, without any permission, to do the same by all her neighbours in Meryton.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)