Synonyms for privilege
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Prerogative — A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative…
prerogative, liberty, right, immunity, freedom, claim, charter UK, exclusive right, license US, licence UK, exemption, dispensation, franchise, concession, faculty, perquisite, freelage UK
2. Advantage — the fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or…
Other
honor US, honour UK, permission, stock option
Definitions
- n. 1
A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment.
All first-year professors here must teach four courses a term, yet you're only teaching one! What entitled you to such a privilege?
- n. 2
The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society.
South Africa's 'miracle transition' has not put an end to white privilege.
Forms
- Plural
- privileges → prerogatives, liberties, rights, immunities…
Choose the right word
A privilege is always special, exceptional, and artificial; it is something not enjoyed by all, or only to be enjoyed on certain special conditions, a peculiar benefit, favor, advantage, etc.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- freedom At present freedom of speech is taken for granted.
- liberty I'm not at liberty to tell you about the incident.
- immunity How long do babies carry their mother's immunity?
- prerogative It's your prerogative to decide whether to go on the trip.
- permission You should not have done it without my permission.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| privilege | steady | |
| freedom | steady | |
| liberty | steady | |
| immunity | steady | |
| prerogative | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- right1, claim1, honor2
- 6 letters
- honour2
- 7 letters
- freedom2, license2, liberty3, faculty3, charter2, licence2
- 8 letters
- immunity4, freelage, foredeal
- 9 letters
- advantage3, franchise2, exemption3
- 10 letters
- permission3, concession3, perquisite3
- 11 letters
- prerogative4
- 12 letters
- dispensation4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (honor2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- privilège
- Italiano
- privilegio
- Español
- privilegio
- Deutsch
- Privileg