Personal vs. Private: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Personal" pertains to or concerns an individual, while "private" means not open or accessible to the general public.
Key Differences
Personal refers to something related to or affecting an individual, often emphasizing individuality and uniqueness. On the other hand, Private emphasizes being away from public view, focusing on secrecy or confidentiality. Both terms deal with the individual sphere, but with different nuances.
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Nov 13, 2023
When something is Personal, it is intimately connected to an individual's identity, experiences, or characteristics. In contrast, Private refers to spaces, conversations, or information intended to be kept confidential and not shared with others. While both involve an individual, the focus of Personal is on the individual's characteristics, whereas Private is about the exclusivity of access.
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Personal often implies ownership or association with a specific individual, like personal belongings or personal opinions. Conversely, Private suggests a need or desire to keep something hidden or secluded from the general public or certain groups. Both terms imply a relationship to the individual but differ in the aspect of visibility and sharing.
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Nov 13, 2023
Personal can also describe something done in person or directly, such as a personal conversation. On the other hand, Private implies a setting or situation where one is free from public attention or intrusion. While Personal often conveys directness or immediacy, Private stresses on discretion and seclusion.
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In terms of usage, Personal can describe attributes or activities intrinsic to an individual, like personal growth or personal hobbies. Private, however, is often used to denote areas or information intentionally kept out of public reach, like private meetings or private data. Both relate to the individual realm but in distinct ways.
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Nov 13, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Focus
Individual identity and characteristics
Confidentiality and exclusivity
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Usage in Communication
Direct or individual communication
Communication meant for limited audience
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Implication of Ownership
Implies personal ownership or association
Implies restricted access or ownership
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Context
Can be publicly known but individually tied
Typically involves secrecy or hidden aspects
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Personal and Private Definitions
Personal
Relating to a specific individual.
Her personal diary is full of memories.
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Private
For the use of a single person or group.
She entered the private room for the meeting.
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Personal
Done or made by a particular person.
He takes personal responsibility for the project's success.
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Private
Not holding an official or public position.
She works as a private consultant.
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Personal
Directly affecting or concerning someone.
She received personal criticism for her work.
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Personal
Pertaining to private rather than professional life.
He prefers not to discuss his personal life.
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Private
Secluded from the sight, presence, or intrusion of others
A private hideaway.
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Personal
Done in person; face-to-face.
They had a personal meeting to resolve the issue.
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Personal
Of or relating to a particular person; private
“Like their personal lives, women's history is fragmented, interrupted” (Elizabeth Janeway).
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
Of or confined to the individual; personal
A private joke.
Private opinions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Done to or for or directed toward a particular person
A personal favor.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
Of, relating to, or receiving special hospital services and privileges
A private patient.
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Concerning a particular person and that person's private business, interests, or activities; intimate
I have something personal to tell you.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
Not available for public use, control, or participation
A private club.
A private party.
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Aimed pointedly at the most intimate aspects of a person, especially in a critical or hostile manner
An uncalled-for, highly personal remark.
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Private
Belonging to a particular person or persons, as opposed to the public or the government
Private property.
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Tending to make remarks, or be unduly questioning, about another's affairs
As the student debate got heated, it got personal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
Of, relating to, or derived from nongovernment sources
Private funding.
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Private
Conducted and supported primarily by individuals or groups not affiliated with governmental agencies or corporations
A private college.
A private sanatorium.
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Relating to or having the nature of a person or self-conscious being
Belief in a personal God.
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Personal
(Law) Of or relating to the person
Personal property as opposed to real property.
Personal jurisdiction as opposed to in rem jurisdiction.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
Not for public knowledge or disclosure; secret
Private papers.
A private communication.
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Personal
Personals A column in a newspaper or magazine featuring personal notices.
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Private
Not appropriate for use or display in public; intimate
Private behavior.
A private tragedy.
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Personal
Pertaining to persons (human beings as opposed to things or animals).
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Personal
Of or pertaining to a particular person; relating to, or affecting, an individual, or each of many individuals
Her song was her personal look at the values of friendship.
Personal values
Personal desire
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Private
A noncommissioned rank in the US Army or Marine Corps that is below private first class.
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Dealing with subjects about which one wishes (or people usually wish) to maintain privacy or discretion; not for public view; sensitive, intimate.
You can't read my diary—it is personal.
That's a very personal question.
I can't believe you went through my drawers and looked at all my personal things!
Personal reasons
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.
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Personal
(euphemistic) Intended for sexual use.
Personal lubricant; personal massager
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Personal
Pertaining to the external or bodily appearance; corporeal; bodily.
Personal charms
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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
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Done in person; without an intermediary.
A personal interview
A personal meeting
Personal settings
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Relating to an individual, their character, conduct, motives, or private affairs, in an invidious and offensive manner
Personal reflections or remarks
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Private
Not in governmental office or employment.
He quit public life, living quietly as a private citizen.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
Not publicly known; not open; secret.
The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private.
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Denoting ownership.
One's personal vehicle, as opposed to a company vehicle
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Private
Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded.
Can we go somewhere more private?
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Personal
An advertisement by which an individual attempts to meet others with similar interests.
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Personal
Pertaining to human beings as distinct from things.
Every man so termed by way of personal difference.
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Personal
Of or pertaining to a particular person; relating to, or affecting, an individual, or each of many individuals; peculiar or proper to private concerns; not public or general; as, personal comfort; personal desire.
The words are conditional, - If thou doest well, - and so personal to Cain.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
Accessible only to the class itself or instances of it, and not to other classes or even subclasses.
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Pertaining to the external or bodily appearance; corporeal; as, personal charms.
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Done in person; without the intervention of another.
The immediate and personal speaking of God.
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Private
A doctor working in privately rather than publicly funded health care.
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Personal
Relating to an individual, his character, conduct, motives, or private affairs, in an invidious and offensive manner; as, personal reflections or remarks.
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality;
A personal favor
For your personal use
Personal papers
I have something personal to tell you
A personal God
He has his personal bank account and she has hers
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
A private lesson.
If you want to learn ballet, consider taking privates.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
To make something hidden from the public (without deleting it permanently).
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Oct 19, 2023
Personal
Intimately concerning a person's body or physical being;
Personal hygiene
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
Not invested with, or engaged in, public office or employment; as, a private citizen; private life.
A private person may arrest a felon.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
Not publicly known; not open; secret; as, a private negotiation; a private understanding.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
Personal interest; particular business.
Nor must I be unmindful of my private.
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Oct 19, 2023
Private
One not invested with a public office.
What have kings, that privates have not too?
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Private
A common soldier; a soldier below the grade of a noncommissioned officer.
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Private
An enlisted man of the lowest rank;
Our prisoner was just a private and knew nothing of value
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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
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Private
Concerning things deeply private and personal;
Private correspondence
Private family matters
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Private
Concerning one person exclusively;
We all have individual cars
Each room has a private bath
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Private
Not publicly known; confidential.
He shared private information with his lawyer.
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Private
Secluded from the view or presence of others.
They had a private dinner in a quiet restaurant.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does 'personal' mean in terms of property?
Personal property refers to items owned by an individual, as opposed to shared or public property.
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Nov 13, 2023
Is 'private' always secretive?
Not necessarily. Private can mean simply restricted from public access, not always secretive.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can 'private' refer to a business?
Yes, a private business is one owned by individuals or a small group, not the public or government.
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Nov 13, 2023
How is 'personal' used in communication?
Personal communication often implies a direct, individualized interaction.
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Nov 13, 2023
Does 'personal' imply emotional connection?
Often, yes. Personal matters often have emotional significance.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can 'personal' refer to a professional aspect?
Yes, as in personal achievements in one's career.
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Nov 13, 2023
Does 'personal' mean the same as 'individual'?
Yes, in many contexts, they are synonymous.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can something be personal but not private?
Yes, personal details can be known publicly, while private details are kept confidential.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can a company be 'personal'?
Not typically, as 'personal' refers to individuals, not entities.
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Nov 13, 2023
Is a private conversation always confidential?
Generally, yes. It's meant to be kept between the parties involved.
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Nov 13, 2023
What's a private sector job?
A job in a company not owned by the government.
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Nov 13, 2023
Is private healthcare government-funded?
No, it's typically funded privately or through insurance.
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Are private schools owned by the government?
No, private schools are independently owned and operated.
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Nov 13, 2023
Is personal space a physical or emotional concept?
It can be both, referring to physical distance and emotional boundaries.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can private property be accessed by the public?
Usually not without permission from the owner.
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Nov 13, 2023
Do personal opinions have to be kept private?
Not necessarily; personal opinions can be shared publicly.
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Nov 13, 2023
Does 'private' imply exclusivity?
Often, it implies restricted access to a select few.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can personal experiences be universal?
While unique, personal experiences can have universal themes.
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Nov 13, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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