privacy
UK: ˈprɪvəsi | US: ˈpraɪvəsi
n. the state of being free from public attention or unwanted intrusion
n. a person's right to keep personal matters confidential
privacy = priv<private> + acy<noun suffix>
- priv (from Latin privatus, meaning "private, withdrawn from public life")
- acy (noun-forming suffix indicating a state or condition, from Latin -atia)
Etymology Origin:
The word "privacy" traces back to the Latin privatus, meaning "set apart, belonging to oneself." The suffix -acy was added in Middle English to form a noun denoting the state of being private. The concept evolved from physical seclusion (e.g., private property) to the modern sense of personal confidentiality and freedom from surveillance.
She values her privacy and rarely shares personal details online.
The new law aims to protect digital privacy from unauthorized data collection.
The hotel room offered complete privacy with soundproof walls.
Journalists often debate the balance between public interest and individual privacy.
He installed curtains to ensure his privacy in the ground-floor apartment.