Privacy Is Not the Same as Secrecy
Privacy is the state of being free from observation. Secrecy hides information; privacy controls who may see it, and the difference matters in law.
Privacy is the ability to keep parts of your life from being observed or shared. It is often confused with secrecy, but the distinction is sharp: secrecy is about hiding information, privacy is about deciding who gets to see it. Everyone closes the bathroom door; nobody is keeping a secret.
- Freedom from observation. *An invasion of privacy.*
- Control over personal information. *Data privacy.*
- A private space. *The privacy of your own home.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | privacy | Personal privacy. |
| Adjective | private | A private conversation. |
| Adverb | privately | Privately funded. |
| Verb | privatise | Privatise the service. |
| Related | confidentiality | Medical confidentiality. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The photographs were an invasion of privacy.A legal claim in several countries.
- Read the privacy policy before signing up.Advice rarely taken.
- He values his privacy.Meaning he prefers not to be observed.
Privacy terms
- Personal data — information relating to an identifiable person
- Consent — permission freely given for a specific use
- Anonymisation — removing identifiers so a person cannot be recognised
- Data minimisation — collecting only what is needed
- Right to be forgotten — the right to have certain data erased
From Latin *privatus*, set apart or belonging to oneself, from *privare*, to separate. The same root gives *private*, *deprive* and *privilege*, a private law.
How is *privacy* pronounced?
PRIV-acy in British English and PRY-vacy in American. Both are standard in their own varieties.
Privacy or confidentiality?
Privacy belongs to the person. Confidentiality is a duty owed by someone who holds another person's information.