# privilege

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɹɪv.(ɪ.)lɪd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #5,156

## Definitions
1. An exemption from certain laws granted by the Pope.
2. A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment.
3. An especially rare or fortunate opportunity; the good fortune (to do something).
4. The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society.
5. A right or immunity enjoyed by a legislative body or its members.
6. A stock market option.
7. A common law doctrine that protects certain communications from being used as evidence in court.
8. An ability to perform an action on the system that can be selectively granted or denied to users.

## Etymology
From Middle English privilege, from Anglo-Norman privilege and Old French privilege, from Latin prīvilēgium (“ordinance or law against or in favor of an individual”), from prīvus (“private”) + lēx, lēg- (“law”).

## Easily confused with
- **privileged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/privilege-vs-privileged)
- **privileges** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/privilege-vs-privileges)

## Common misspellings (13)
`pirvilege`, `pprivilege`, `priivlege`, `privielge`, `privileeg`, `privilegge`, `privilgee`, `privillege`, `privliege`, `privvilege`, `prrivilege`, `prviilege`, `rpivilege`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/privilege