privilèges

Privilèges is the plural form of the French noun privilège, meaning privileges. In a general sense, privileges are special rights, immunities, or exemptions granted to individuals, groups, institutions, or nations that distinguish them from the general population. The term derives from Latin privilegium through Old French into modern French.

In law, privilege denotes a legal exemption from a rule or from revealing information, or a special right linked to a relationship. Examples include attorney-client privilege, physician-patient privilege, journalist privilege, diplomatic privileges, and parliamentary privilege, which protects certain rights of members of parliament.

Historically, privilèges in France referred to legal or fiscal exemptions granted to certain estates under the Ancien Régime. These privileges included tax exemptions, exclusive rights, and jurisdictional immunities for the clergy and nobility, contributing to social inequality and reform movements that culminated in the French Revolution.

In contemporary governance, privileges can be legitimate rights conferred by law or contract, or debated as unearned advantages that produce unequal outcomes in society in sociological terms. In information technology, user privileges or permissions regulate access to data and resources based on role.

The term is used in legal, historical, social, and digital contexts, with the precise meaning varying by jurisdiction and discipline. The concept of privilege also appears in discussions about equality and access, highlighting how certain groups may benefit from systemic advantages.