privilege

1. (ecclesiastical law, now chiefly historical) An exemption from certain laws granted by the Pope.countablehistoricaluncountable

2. (countable) A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment.Examples: "All first-year professors here must teach four courses a term, yet you're only teaching one! What entitled you to such a privilege?"; "Special privileges should be reserved for family and village life, while steps should be taken to prevent families and family ownings from being broken up by inheritance."Synonyms: franchise, immunity, prerogative, right, freelagecountable

3. (uncountable) The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society.Examples: "People who at any other time would cling like glue to their miserable scraps of privilege, will surrender them fast enough when their country is in danger."; "There is no complexity expressed in the feverish discussions of white privilege that periodically grips South Africa's chattering class."; "South Africa's 'miracle transition' has not put an end to white privilege."Synonyms: advantage, foredealuncountable

4. (countable, US, finance, now rare) A stock market option.USarchaiccountable

5. (law) A common law doctrine that protects certain communications from being used as evidence in court.Examples: "Your honor, my client is not required to answer that; her response is protected by attorney-client privilege."countableuncountable

6. (computing) An ability to perform an action on the system that can be selectively granted or denied to users.Synonyms: permissioncountableuncountable