1. the state in which an individual’s or a group’s desired level of social interaction is not exceeded.

2. the right to control (psychologically and physically) others’ access to one’s personal world, such as by regulating others’ input through use of physical or other barriers (e.g., doors, partitions) and by regulating one’s own output in communication with others.

3. the right of patients and others (e.g., consumers) to control the amount and disposition of the information they divulge about themselves. See privileged communication. —private adj.