Individual vs. Private — What's the Difference?

An individual is that which exists as a distinct entity. Individuality (or self-hood) is the state or quality of being an individual; particularly (in the case of humans) of being a person unique from other people and possessing one's own needs or goals, rights and responsibilities.

Belonging to or for the use of one particular person or group of people only

Single; separate

(of a person) having no official or public role or position

Of or for a particular person

(of a service or industry) provided or owned by an individual or an independent, commercial company rather than the state

A single human being as distinct from a group

The lowest rank in the army, below lance corporal or private first class.

Of or relating to an individual, especially a single human

Short for private parts

By or for one person

Secluded from the sight, presence, or intrusion of others

Existing as a distinct entity; separate

Designed or intended for one's exclusive use

Marked by or expressing individuality; distinctive or individualistic

Of or confined to the individual; personal

Special; particular

Undertaken on an individual basis

Serving to identify or set apart

Of, relating to, or receiving special hospital services and privileges

A single human considered apart from a society or community

Not available for public use, control, or participation

A human regarded as a distinctive or unique personality

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

A single organism as distinguished from a species, community, or group.

Of, relating to, or derived from nongovernment sources

A member of a collection or set; a specimen.

Conducted and supported primarily by individuals or groups not affiliated with governmental agencies or corporations

A person considered alone, rather than as belonging to a group of people.

Enrolled in or attending a private school

(legal) A single physical human being as a legal subject, as opposed to a legal person such as a corporation.

Capitalized in shares of stock that are held by a relatively small number of owners and are not traded on the open market

An object, be it a thing or an agent, as contrasted to a class.

Not holding an official or public position

(statistics) An element belonging to a population.

Not for public knowledge or disclosure; secret

Relating to a single person or thing as opposed to more than one.

Not appropriate for use or display in public; intimate

Intended for a single person as opposed to more than one person.

Placing a high value on personal privacy

Not divisible without losing its identity.

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

Not divided, or not to be divided; existing as one entity, or distinct being or object; single; one; as, an individual man, animal, or city.

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

Of or pertaining to one only; peculiar to, or characteristic of, a single person or thing; distinctive; as, individual traits of character; individual exertions; individual peculiarities.

Privates Private parts. Often used with the.

A single person, animal, or thing of any kind; a thing or being incapable of separation or division, without losing its identity; especially, a human being; a person.

Belonging to, concerning, or accessible only to an individual person or a specific group.

An independent, or partially independent, zooid of a compound animal.

Not accessible by the public.

A human being;

Not in governmental office or employment.

A single organism

Not publicly known; not open; secret.

Being or characteristic of a single thing or person;

Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded.

Separate and distinct from others of the same kind;

Not traded by the public.

Characteristic of or meant for a single person or thing;

Secretive; reserved.

Concerning one person exclusively;

Not shared with another patient.

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

A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.

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

The genitals.

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

(obsolete) Personal interest; particular business.

(obsolete) Privacy; retirement.

(obsolete) One not invested with a public office.

A private lesson.

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

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.

Sequestered from company or observation; appropriated to an individual; secret; secluded; lonely; solitary; as, a private room or apartment; private prayer.

Not invested with, or engaged in, public office or employment; as, a private citizen; private life.

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

Having secret or private knowledge; privy.

A secret message; a personal unofficial communication.

Personal interest; particular business.

Privacy; retirement.

One not invested with a public office.

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

The private parts; the genitals.

An enlisted man of the lowest rank;

Confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy;

Concerning things deeply private and personal;

Concerning one person exclusively;

Not expressed;