private education 1100
,private edu'cation n [U] education provided privately, not by the government
CULTURAL NOTE Quite a large number of people in Britain are against private education because they think it strengthens class differences and makes people less equal, but some people in Britain and the US are willing to pay for private education because they feel it gives their children a better standard of education.
,private 'enterprise n 1 [U] the economic system in which private businesses operate in free competition with each other and the government does not control industry 2 [C] a business set up by an individual person or group of people
pri-va-teer /ˌpraɪvə'tɪər/ n (in former times) (the commander of, or a sailor on) an armed ship, owned and commanded by private people, that had government permission to attack and rob enemy ships carrying goods
,Private 'Eye trademark a British SATIRICAL magazine which is known for criticizing and making jokes about famous people, and for printing stories about dishonest or embarrassing behaviour by people in public life. Many people have taken Private Eye to court because they say its articles about them are untrue or unfair.
,Private 'Finance I,nitiative /ˌɪˌ ˌ ˌ ˌ/ abbrev. PFI n a method used by the UK government to pay for public projects such as new hospitals, prisons, roads, and schools without having to pay for them directly. The government makes an agreement with one or more private companies who raise the money and do the building work. They then rent the building or road back to the government. Some people have criticized the Private Finance Initiative because they think that this arrangement will cost more in the future than if the government pays for the work itself. -> see also PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
,private 'income n money which one gets regularly, usually enough to live on, not from working but because one has money in a business or bank, which earns INTEREST
'private ,law n [U] law the part of the law concerned with private people, property, and relationships -> compare PUBLIC LAW
,private ,limited 'company n a company whose shares are not bought and sold on the STOCK MARKET, and can only pass to another person with the agreement of other SHAREHOLDERS
,private 'medicine n [U] BrE HEALTH CARE which is not provided by the government but paid for by private insurance or directly
CULTURAL NOTE Most people in Britain are proud of the National Health Service, mainly paid for by the government, which provides free health care for everyone in the country. Some people feel that the growth of private medicine will reduce standards in the public service. People who 'go private' (=have private medicine) often do so because they are treated more quickly.
,private 'member n (especially in Britain) a member of parliament who is not a minister in the government
,private 'member's ,bill n (especially in Britain) a parliamentary law introduced by a member of parliament who is not a minister in the government. Most parliamentary laws are introduced by the government but some private member's bills have been important, e.g. in introducing laws concerning DIVORCE and CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
,private 'money n [U] money used to pay for business plans, e.g. the Channel Tunnel, which comes from private people and not from the government
,private 'parts also pri-vates /'praɪvəts/ infml — n [P] euph the outer sexual organs
,private 'patient n BrE somebody who pays for HEALTH CARE rather than receiving free care provided by the government
,private 'practice n [U] 1 the practice of a professional person which is independent of an organization; especially the practice of doctors and DENTISTS in Britain outside the National Health Service (NHS). It is quite common for doctors and dentists in Britain to have private PATIENTS who pay, in addition to their NHS patients. 2 AmE the practice of a professional person, especially a doctor or lawyer, who works alone rather than with a group of others: He set up a private practice when he got tired of the firm's politics.
,private 'school n a school not supported by government money, where education must be paid for. In Britain a private school is often called a PREP SCHOOL or a PUBLIC SCHOOL. Only a fairly small number of school-age children attend private schools; most attend STATE SCHOOLS. -> see Feature on page A12
,private 'secretary n a secretary who is employed to help one person, especially with CONFIDENTIAL business matters
,private 'sector n [the] those industries and services in a country that are owned and run by private companies, not by the state: pay increases in the private sector | private sector employees -> compare PUBLIC SECTOR
,private 'soldier n.fml for PRIVATE
,private 'treaty n BrE law by private treaty by private arrangement between buyer and seller and not in a public meeting: For sale by private treaty, a 4-bedroomed country house overlooking the Wye Valley.
,private 'view also ,private 'viewing n an occasion on which certain people are able to see a public show of objects such as paintings before it opens to the general public
pri-va-tion /praɪ'veɪʃn/ n fml [C;U] (a) lack or loss of the necessary things or the main comforts of life: Everyone suffered privations during the war.
pri-vat-i-zation /ˌpraɪvətaɪ'zeɪʃn||-tə-/ n [U] the selling (of a government-owned industry or organization) into private ownership. Margaret THATCHER was strongly in favour of this and during the 1980s, her CONSERVATIVE government sold many state-run companies into private ownership, e.g. British Telecom, British Gas, British Airways etc
pri-vat-ize also -ise BrE /'praɪvətaɪz/ v [T] especially BrE to sell (a government-owned industry or organization) into private ownership: Cleaning services in state-run hospitals have been privatized. -> compare NATIONALIZE
priv-et /'prɪvɪt/ n [U] a bush with leaves that stay green all the year, often grown in gardens to form a HEDGE
priv-i-lege¹ /'prɪvəlɪdʒ/ n 1 [C] a special advantage limited to a particular person or group: He had his privileges withdrawn as a punishment. | Education is a privilege, not a right, in many countries. -> compare PREROGATIVE 2 [U] often derog advantage possessed by a person or group because of their wealth, social rank etc: The British public schools are bastions of privilege. 3 [S] a special favour; advantage that gives one great pleasure: He's a fine musician; it's a privilege to hear him play. 4 [C;U] (a) right to do or say things without risk of punishment, especially in a parliament: A member of parliament mustn't hit a fellow member; that would be a breach of privilege. (=a breaking of the rules about what a member can do or say)
privilege² v [T] formal to treat some people or things better than others
priv-i-leged /'prɪvəlɪdʒd/ adj 1 having a special favour or honour: [F+to-v] We are privileged tonight to have as our main speaker the Foreign Minister of France. 2 often derog having advantage because of wealth, social rank etc: the privileged classes 3 that a court of law cannot force one to make known: a privileged communication
priv-y¹ /'prɪvi/ adj 1 [F+to] fml sharing secret knowledge (of): I was not privy to the discussions, so I cannot tell you what was decided. 2 [A] old use secret; private —ily adv
privy² also outhouse AmE — n old use a TOILET, especially an outdoor one
,Privy 'Council, the a group of important politicians in the UK who are officially chosen to be advisers to the king or queen. At one time this group had real power, but its purpose is now mostly ceremonial. Its members include past and present government ministers and the leaders of the other main political parties. They are given the title 'Right Honourable'. —Privy Councillor n
,Privy 'Purse, the money given by the British government to the king or queen for their private use, which is separate from the CIVIL LIST (=government money that pays for the king or queen's official expenses).
,Privy 'Seal, the -> see LORD PRIVY SEAL