Privilégié

Privilégié is a French adjective meaning granted special advantages or immunities, or relating to privileges. It can describe a person, group, or condition that receives favorable treatment. The corresponding noun form is “un privilégié” (masculine) or “une privilégiée” (feminine).

Etymology traces the word to the noun privilège (privilege), from Latin privilegium, with the sense of a special grant or exemption. The masculine form is privilégié, with feminine privilégiée and plural privilégiés.

Usage ranges from neutral to critical. In neutral contexts, it can describe a position or status that confers advantages, for example “un statut privilégié” or “un traitement privilégié.” In political, social, or moral discussions, it is often used pejoratively to highlight inequality or preferential rules, as in “une élite privilégiée” or “des avantages privilégiés accordés par la loi.”

In law and public discourse, the term is used with varying nuance: it may refer to legal exemptions, tax regimes, or protective prerogatives that set certain groups apart. It is common to encounter expressions such as “régime privilégié,” “privileges accordés,” or “prérogatives des privilégiés,” depending on the context.

Related concepts include privilège (the privilege itself), prérogatives (official prerogatives), and immunités or exemptions. The word remains widely used in discussions of social stratification, governance, and public policy, where it helps describe the distribution of advantages and the potential impact on equality.