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privately
/ˈpraɪ.vɪt.li/
in a private manner, without others present
She spoke to her lawyer privately about the case.
She had a confidential conversation with her lawyer.
formalinformal
in a way that is not public or shared with others
They discussed the sensitive matter privately.
They talked about the confidential issue in private.
He privately admitted his mistake to his boss.
He confessed his error to his boss in a private setting.
Often used to describe confidential or personal conversations.
Collocations
privately ownedowned by an individual or entity, not publicprivately heldnot publicly traded on a stock exchangeprivately fundedfinanced by private sources, not government
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Use
Use 'privately' in both formal and informal contexts, but 'in private' is more common in casual speech.
Gold Rule
Confidentiality
'Privately' emphasizes secrecy or personal communication, not just physical isolation.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'privatly,' from Old French 'privé,' from Latin 'privatus' (private).
Usage Notes
Often used in legal, business, and personal contexts to indicate confidentiality.
Word Breakdown
private
belonging to an individual, not shared
root-ly
adverb suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary