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Private vs. Discreet

Private and Discreet Definitions

Private

Secluded from the sight, presence, or intrusion of others
A private hideaway.

Discreet

Possessed of, exercising, or showing prudence and self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect
The teacher was discreet in discussing the student's behavior. We followed him but kept a discreet distance.

Private

Designed or intended for one's exclusive use
A private room.

Discreet

Made, done, or situated so as to attract little notice
Made a discreet exit out the back door.
Lovers seeking a discreet place to meet.

Private

Of or confined to the individual; personal
A private joke.
Private opinions.

Discreet

Respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet; diplomatic.
With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.
John just doesn't understand that laughing at Mary all day is not very discreet.
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Private

Undertaken on an individual basis
Private studies.
Private research.

Discreet

Not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous.

Private

Of, relating to, or receiving special hospital services and privileges
A private patient.

Discreet

Possessed of discernment, especially in avoiding error or evil, and in the adaptation of means to ends; prudent; sagacious; judicious; not rash or heedless; cautious.
It is the discreet man, not the witty, nor the learned, nor the brave, who guides the conversation, and gives measures to society.
Satire 's my weapon, but I 'm too discreetTo run amuck, and tilt at all I meet.
The sea is silent, the sea is discreet.

Private

Not available for public use, control, or participation
A private club.
A private party.

Discreet

Differing; distinct.
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Private

Belonging to a particular person or persons, as opposed to the public or the government
Private property.

Discreet

Marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint;
His trusted discreet aide
A discreet, finely wrought gold necklace

Private

Of, relating to, or derived from nongovernment sources
Private funding.

Discreet

Unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic;
A discerning editor
A discreet silence

Private

Conducted and supported primarily by individuals or groups not affiliated with governmental agencies or corporations
A private college.
A private sanatorium.

Discreet

Heedful of potential consequences;
Circumspect actions
Physicians are now more circumspect about recommending its use
A discreet investor
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Private

Enrolled in or attending a private school
A private student.

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.

Private

Not holding an official or public position
A private citizen.

Private

Not for public knowledge or disclosure; secret
Private papers.
A private communication.

Private

Not appropriate for use or display in public; intimate
Private behavior.
A private tragedy.

Private

Placing a high value on personal privacy
A private person.

Private

A noncommissioned rank in the US Army or Marine Corps that is below private first class.

Private

One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.

Private

Privates Private parts. Often used with the.

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

Private

Not accessible by the public.
Private property

Private

Not in governmental office or employment.
He quit public life, living quietly as a private citizen.

Private

Not publicly known; not open; secret.
The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private.

Private

Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded.
Can we go somewhere more private?

Private

Not traded by the public.
Private corporation

Private

Secretive; reserved.
He is a very private person.

Private

Not shared with another patient.

Private

Accessible only to the class itself or instances of it, and not to other classes or even subclasses.

Private

A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.

Private

A doctor working in privately rather than publicly funded health care.

Private

The genitals.

Private

(obsolete) A secret message; a personal unofficial communication.

Private

(obsolete) Personal interest; particular business.

Private

(obsolete) Privacy; retirement.

Private

(obsolete) One not invested with a public office.

Private

A private lesson.
If you want to learn ballet, consider taking privates.

Private

To make something hidden from the public (without deleting it permanently).

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.

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.

Private

Not invested with, or engaged in, public office or employment; as, a private citizen; private life.
A private person may arrest a felon.

Private

Not publicly known; not open; secret; as, a private negotiation; a private understanding.

Private

Having secret or private knowledge; privy.

Private

A secret message; a personal unofficial communication.

Private

Personal interest; particular business.
Nor must I be unmindful of my private.

Private

Privacy; retirement.

Private

One not invested with a public office.
What have kings, that privates have not too?

Private

A common soldier; a soldier below the grade of a noncommissioned officer.

Private

The private parts; the genitals.

Private

An enlisted man of the lowest rank;
Our prisoner was just a private and knew nothing of value

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

Private

Concerning things deeply private and personal;
Private correspondence
Private family matters

Private

Concerning one person exclusively;
We all have individual cars
Each room has a private bath

Private

Not expressed;
Secret (or private) thoughts

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