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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Privacy: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：being alone (privacy)

privacy 🔊

/ˈpraɪvəsi/

A state of being alone and not disturbed by other people, like when you are in your own room.

Privacy concept illustration: a person enjoying solitude in their personal, undisturbed bedroom.

being alone 🔊

➕

/ˌbiːɪŋ əˈloʊn/

The state of being free from the presence, observation, or disturbance of others.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'privatus' (set apart, individual) via Old French 'privé'.

💡 Mnemonic

A PRIVATE place is one you can't SEE into—that's your privacy.

📖 Example

After a long day of school, he enjoys the privacy of his bedroom, where he can read or just relax alone. 🔊 After a long day of school, he enjoys the state of being alone in his bedroom, where he can read or just relax without disturbance.

🔗 Collocations

invade someone's privacy – To intrude into someone's personal space or affairs.

right to privacy – A legal or moral entitlement to be left alone.

respect privacy – To honor and not interfere with someone's personal space.

🔄 Synonyms

seclusion (n.) – The state of being private and away from other people.

solitude (n.) – The state of being alone, often enjoyed for peace.

isolation (n.) – The condition of being separated from others.

🚫 Antonyms

publicity (n.) – The state of being widely known or in public view.

exposure (n.) – The condition of being made visible or accessible to others.

🌱 Derivatives

private (adj.) – Belonging to or for the use of one particular person or group; not public.

privately (adv.) – In a private manner; not in public.

📖 Cultural Story

Evolving from a state of being withdrawn (private life) to a key modern legal and digital concept. Landmark legislation like GDPR highlights its crucial role in protecting personal data from corporate and state surveillance.

Meaning 2：control over personal information (privacy)

privacy 🔊

/ˈpraɪvəsi/

The right to keep your personal information, thoughts, or affairs secret and control who gets to know them.

Privacy protection visual: securing a diary and adjusting smartphone privacy settings.

control over personal information 🔊

➕

/kənˈtroʊl ˈoʊvər ˈpɜːrsənl ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃn/

The right and practice of keeping one's personal matters, data, or communications secret and controlling access to them.

📁 Category：Laws & Regulations 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Most social media apps have settings to help users control their data privacy and decide what information is shared with others. 🔊 Most social media apps have settings to help users control their personal data and decide what information is shared with others.

🔗 Collocations

data privacy – The protection of personal data from unauthorized access.

privacy policy – A legal document explaining how an organization collects and uses personal data.

breach of privacy – An instance where confidential personal information is accessed without permission.

🔄 Synonyms

confidentiality (n.) – The state of keeping information secret or private.

secrecy (n.) – The action of keeping something secret or the state of being kept secret.

discretion (n.) – The quality of behaving in a way that avoids causing offense or revealing private information.

🚫 Antonyms

disclosure (n.) – The action of making new or secret information known.

transparency (n.) – The quality of being open and honest, without secrets.

🌱 Derivatives

privately (adv.) – In a confidential manner; not for public knowledge.