The difference between Private and Secret
When used as nouns, private means a soldier of the lowest rank in the army, whereas secret means knowledge that is hidden and intended to be kept hidden.
When used as adjectives, private means belonging to, concerning, or accessible only to an individual person or a specific group, whereas secret means being or kept hidden.
Secret is also verb with the meaning: to make or keep secret.
check bellow for the other definitions of Private and Secret
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Private as an adjective:
Belonging to, concerning, or accessible only to an individual person or a specific group.
Examples:
"Her address is private; you can't have it."
"'private papers"
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Private as an adjective:
Not accessible by the public.
Examples:
"'private property"
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Private as an adjective:
Not in governmental office or employment.
Examples:
"He quit public life, living quietly as a private citizen."
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Private as an adjective:
Not publicly known; not open; secret.
Examples:
"The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private."
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Private as an adjective:
Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded.
Examples:
"Can we go somewhere more private?"
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Private as an adjective:
Not traded by the public.
Examples:
"'private corporation"
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Private as an adjective:
Secretive; reserved.
Examples:
"He is a very private person."
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Private as an adjective (US, of a room in a medical facility):
Not shared with another patient.
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Private as a noun:
A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.
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Private as a noun (euphemism, in the plural):
The genitals.
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Private as a noun (obsolete):
A secret message; a personal unofficial communication.
Examples:
"rfquotek Shakespeare"
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Private as a noun (obsolete):
Personal interest; particular business.
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Private as a noun (obsolete):
Privacy; retirement.
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Private as a noun (obsolete):
One not invested with a public office.
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Private as a noun (usually plural):
A private lesson.
Examples:
"If you want to learn ballet, consider taking privates."
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Secret as a noun (countable, uncountable):
Knowledge that is hidden and intended to be kept hidden.
Examples:
"Can you keep a secret? So can I."
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Secret as a noun:
The key or principle by which something is made clear; the knack.
Examples:
"The secret to a long-lasting marriage is compromise."
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Secret as a noun:
Something not understood or known.
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Secret as a noun (archaic, in the plural):
The genital organs.
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Secret as an adjective:
Being or kept hidden.
Examples:
"We went down a secret passage."
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Secret as an adjective (obsolete):
Withdrawn from general intercourse or notice; in retirement or secrecy; secluded.
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Secret as an adjective (obsolete):
Faithful to a secret; not inclined to divulge or betray confidence; secretive, separate, apart.
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Secret as an adjective (obsolete):
Separate; distinct.
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Secret as a verb (transitive):
To make or keep secret.
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Secret as a verb (transitive):
To hide secretly.
Examples:
"He was so scared for his safety he secreted arms around the house."