| Noun | 1. | private - an enlisted man of the lowest rank; "our prisoner was just a private and knew nothing of value" | |
| Adj. | 1. | private - confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy; "a private place"; "private discussions"; "private lessons"; "a private club"; "a private secretary"; "private property"; "the former President is now a private citizen"; "public figures struggle to maintain a private life"esoteric - confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle; "a compilation of esoteric philosophical theories" personal - concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality; "a personal favor"; "for your personal use"; "personal papers"; "I have something personal to tell you"; "a personal God"; "he has his personal bank account and she has hers" public - not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole; "the public good"; "public libraries"; "public funds"; "public parks"; "a public scandal"; "public gardens"; "performers and members of royal families are public figures" | |
| 2. | private - concerning things deeply private and personal; "private correspondence"; "private family matters"personal - concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality; "a personal favor"; "for your personal use"; "personal papers"; "I have something personal to tell you"; "a personal God"; "he has his personal bank account and she has hers" | |
| 3. | private - concerning one person exclusively; "we all have individual cars"; "each room has a private bath"personal - concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality; "a personal favor"; "for your personal use"; "personal papers"; "I have something personal to tell you"; "a personal God"; "he has his personal bank account and she has hers" | |
| 4. | private - not expressed; "secret (or private) thoughts"inward - relating to or existing in the mind or thoughts; "a concern with inward reflections" | |