Personal vs. Private: What's the Difference?
Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Published on October 30, 2023
Personal pertains to an individual, often reflecting characteristics or preferences, while private emphasizes confidentiality or restricted access.
Key Differences
Personal and private are two adjectives that often intersect in meaning but have distinct applications. Personal refers to something that belongs to or is associated with a particular person, often reflecting their characteristics, emotions, or preferences. On the other hand, private pertains to something that is meant to be kept away from public view or knowledge, emphasizing its confidential nature.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
When we talk about personal items, we often mean things like personal letters, personal opinions, or personal belongings, which directly relate to an individual's life, emotions, or experiences. Conversely, private usually highlights the idea of exclusion from the general public or unauthorized personnel, such as in private property or private information.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
Personal can also suggest something that is tailored to an individual's unique preferences or needs. For instance, a personal trainer designs workout regimes tailored to individual clients. In contrast, private can suggest exclusivity, as seen in the context of private schools or private clubs, where admission is restricted.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
It's important to note that while all private matters are personal in nature, not all personal matters are private. For example, a personal hobby might be known widely among friends and acquaintances but doesn't necessarily mean it's private. On the contrary, private matters are generally considered sensitive and are typically concealed from the wider public.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
In sum, personal largely revolves around individual identity, characteristics, and associations, whereas private emphasizes secrecy, confidentiality, and restricted access.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Relating to an individual, reflecting characteristics or preferences.
Emphasizing confidentiality or restricted access.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
Context
Personal opinion, personal belongings.
Private property, private information.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
Overlap
All private matters are personal.
Not all personal matters are private.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 30, 2023
Usage
Can describe feelings, experiences, and preferences.
Often describes restricted areas, events, or data.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 30, 2023
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Personal and Private Definitions
Personal
Relating to or affecting a particular individual.
He has his personal reasons for resigning.
Sara Rehman
Oct 09, 2023
Private
Belonging to or concerning an individual person, company, or interest.
This is my private property.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 09, 2023
Personal
Of, affecting, or belonging to a specific person rather than anyone else.
She packed her personal belongings in a suitcase.
Sara Rehman
Oct 09, 2023
Private
Free from any possibility of being observed or disturbed by others.
He needed a private moment to collect his thoughts.
Sara Rehman
Oct 09, 2023
Personal
Concerning one's private life, relationships, and emotions.
I don't want to discuss my personal life.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 09, 2023
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Private
Concerned with, authorized for, or participated in by an individual or specific group.
She attended a private school.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 09, 2023
Personal
Tailored for or responsive to individual needs.
The app offers personal recommendations based on user behavior.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 09, 2023
Private
Secluded from the sight, presence, or intrusion of others
A private hideaway.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Of or relating to a particular person; private
“Like their personal lives, women's history is fragmented, interrupted” (Elizabeth Janeway).
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Of or confined to the individual; personal
A private joke.
Private opinions.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Done to or for or directed toward a particular person
A personal favor.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Concerning a particular person and that person's private business, interests, or activities; intimate
I have something personal to tell you.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Of, relating to, or receiving special hospital services and privileges
A private patient.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Aimed pointedly at the most intimate aspects of a person, especially in a critical or hostile manner
An uncalled-for, highly personal remark.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Not available for public use, control, or participation
A private club.
A private party.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Tending to make remarks, or be unduly questioning, about another's affairs
As the student debate got heated, it got personal.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Belonging to a particular person or persons, as opposed to the public or the government
Private property.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Of, relating to, or derived from nongovernment sources
Private funding.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Relating to or having the nature of a person or self-conscious being
Belief in a personal God.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Conducted and supported primarily by individuals or groups not affiliated with governmental agencies or corporations
A private college.
A private sanatorium.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
(Law) Of or relating to the person
Personal property as opposed to real property.
Personal jurisdiction as opposed to in rem jurisdiction.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Capitalized in shares of stock that are held by a relatively small number of owners and are not traded on the open market
A private company.
A company that went private.
Took a company private.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Personals A column in a newspaper or magazine featuring personal notices.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Not for public knowledge or disclosure; secret
Private papers.
A private communication.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Pertaining to persons (human beings as opposed to things or animals).
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Not appropriate for use or display in public; intimate
Private behavior.
A private tragedy.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Of or pertaining to a particular person; relating to, or affecting, an individual, or each of many individuals
Her song was her personal look at the values of friendship.
Personal values
Personal desire
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Dealing with subjects about which one wishes (or people usually wish) to maintain privacy or discretion; not for public view; sensitive, intimate.
You can't read my diary—it is personal.
That's a very personal question.
I can't believe you went through my drawers and looked at all my personal things!
Personal reasons
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
A noncommissioned rank in the US Army or Marine Corps that is below private first class.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
(euphemistic) Intended for sexual use.
Personal lubricant; personal massager
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Pertaining to the external or bodily appearance; corporeal; bodily.
Personal charms
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Done in person; without an intermediary.
A personal interview
A personal meeting
Personal settings
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Belonging to, concerning, or accessible only to an individual person or a specific group.
Her address is private; you can't have it.
Private papers
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Relating to an individual, their character, conduct, motives, or private affairs, in an invidious and offensive manner
Personal reflections or remarks
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Not in governmental office or employment.
He quit public life, living quietly as a private citizen.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Denoting ownership.
One's personal vehicle, as opposed to a company vehicle
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Not publicly known; not open; secret.
The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
An advertisement by which an individual attempts to meet others with similar interests.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded.
Can we go somewhere more private?
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Pertaining to human beings as distinct from things.
Every man so termed by way of personal difference.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Of or pertaining to a particular person; relating to, or affecting, an individual, or each of many individuals; peculiar or proper to private concerns; not public or general; as, personal comfort; personal desire.
The words are conditional, - If thou doest well, - and so personal to Cain.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Pertaining to the external or bodily appearance; corporeal; as, personal charms.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Accessible only to the class itself or instances of it, and not to other classes or even subclasses.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Done in person; without the intervention of another.
The immediate and personal speaking of God.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Relating to an individual, his character, conduct, motives, or private affairs, in an invidious and offensive manner; as, personal reflections or remarks.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
A doctor working in privately rather than publicly funded health care.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
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
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
A private lesson.
If you want to learn ballet, consider taking privates.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Intimately concerning a person's body or physical being;
Personal hygiene
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
To make something hidden from the public (without deleting it permanently).
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Belonging to, or concerning, an individual person, company, or interest; peculiar to one's self; unconnected with others; personal; one's own; not public; not general; separate; as, a man's private opinion; private property; a private purse; private expenses or interests; a private secretary.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Personal
Directly interacting with or dedicated to an individual.
He hired a personal tutor for his son.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 09, 2023
Private
Sequestered from company or observation; appropriated to an individual; secret; secluded; lonely; solitary; as, a private room or apartment; private prayer.
Reason . . . then retiresInto her private cell when nature rests.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Not invested with, or engaged in, public office or employment; as, a private citizen; private life.
A private person may arrest a felon.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Not publicly known; not open; secret; as, a private negotiation; a private understanding.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Personal interest; particular business.
Nor must I be unmindful of my private.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
One not invested with a public office.
What have kings, that privates have not too?
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
A common soldier; a soldier below the grade of a noncommissioned officer.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
An enlisted man of the lowest rank;
Our prisoner was just a private and knew nothing of value
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
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
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Concerning things deeply private and personal;
Private correspondence
Private family matters
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Concerning one person exclusively;
We all have individual cars
Each room has a private bath
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 08, 2023
Private
Not open to the public or general populace.
The celebrity held a private party at his mansion.
Sara Rehman
Oct 09, 2023
Private
Keeping to oneself; not publicly known.
He has a private ambition to write a novel.
Janet White
Oct 09, 2023
FAQs
Does personal always mean it's about an individual?
Generally, yes. Personal typically refers to something related to or affecting an individual.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
Is a personal email address always private?
While personal email addresses pertain to individuals, they may not always be private if they're shared or known publicly.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
Can something be both personal and private?
Yes, a personal diary can also be considered private if it's meant to be kept secret.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
Can private be used to describe feelings?
Yes, one can have private fears or hopes, meaning feelings they haven't disclosed.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 30, 2023
Can a company have private information?
Yes, companies can have private data or trade secrets that aren't disclosed to the public.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
What's a personal computer?
A personal computer is a computer designed for use by one individual at a time.
Harlon Moss
Oct 30, 2023
Can opinions be personal but not private?
Yes, one can have a personal opinion that they openly share, making it not private.
Janet White
Oct 30, 2023
Does a personal check mean it's from an individual?
Yes, a personal check is typically written from an individual's bank account.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 30, 2023
What's meant by private equity?
Private equity refers to capital not listed on a public exchange, typically invested in companies.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
Are all private schools exclusive?
Not necessarily. While many private schools have selective admissions, not all are exclusive.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
Is personal data always private data?
Not always. Personal data relates to an individual, but if it's publicly accessible, it isn't private.
Janet White
Oct 30, 2023
Is a private investigator always in secret?
While private investigators often work discreetly, they don't always operate in complete secrecy.
Harlon Moss
Oct 30, 2023
Can events be private?
Yes, events like weddings or meetings can be private, restricted to invited guests.
Harlon Moss
Oct 30, 2023
Are private messages encrypted?
Some platforms encrypt private messages, but it's not a guarantee for all services.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 30, 2023
What's a personal preference?
Personal preference refers to an individual's specific likes or choices.
Sara Rehman
Oct 30, 2023
What is meant by a private citizen?
A private citizen refers to someone not holding a public or official position.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 30, 2023
Can something be private in a public setting?
Yes, a private conversation can occur in a public place, implying it's meant only for specific individuals.
Janet White
Oct 30, 2023
Can a personal touch be added to work?
Yes, a personal touch means adding an individual's unique style or touch to something.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 30, 2023
Can businesses offer personal services?
Yes, businesses can offer services tailored to individual customer needs.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 30, 2023
Is a personal identity the same as private identity?
No. Personal identity relates to individual characteristics, while private identity might refer to aspects one keeps secret.
Sara Rehman
Oct 30, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera SaeedSumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.
