Privates

Privates is the plural form of private. In English it can refer to two main senses: individuals holding the lowest enlisted rank in many armed forces, and an informal term for the external genitalia. Both uses derive from the same root related to the idea of belonging to an individual or not being public.

Military sense: A private is typically the entry-level rank for new recruits. Privates perform basic soldiering tasks, training, and support duties under supervision. Progression to higher enlisted ranks is earned through time, demonstrated competence, and specific selection or promotion processes, which vary by country and service. In common usage, the plural “privates” refers to a group of people at that rank or to a cohort within a unit.

Anatomical sense: In informal speech, “privates” refers to the external genitalia. In medical or anatomical terms, the organ group is known as the genitalia and includes both male structures (such as the penis and testes) and female structures (such as the vulva and clitoris, and, in broader usage, the vagina). The perineum is the region between the genitalia and the anus. The phrase “private parts” is widely understood but considered informal; formal or clinical contexts favor precise terminology.

Etymology and usage: The two senses share a common linguistic root related to privacy or personal belonging, but they operate in distinct domains—military organization and human anatomy. The term “private(s)” thus illustrates how a single word can acquire substantially different meanings in separate contexts.