Private and Separate

Private

Private adjective - Of, relating to, or belonging to a single person.
Usage example: club lockers in which private property may be stored

Separate is a synonym for private in individual topic. In some cases you can use "Separate" instead the word "Private" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like position, secluded, personal, hidden.

Separate

Separate adjective - Not physically attached to another unit.
Usage example: the housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard

Private is a synonym for separate in individual topic. You can use "Private" instead the word "Separate" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as position, extra.

Both words in one sentence

  • Saw II plays this with three separate groups (a police squadron, a private detective, and a pair of escaped victims) who look like they're about to meet.
    Source: Cut Apart
  • Oblivion adds an entirely separate rank system for the dremora, ranging from Churl (similar to an army private) on up to Valkynaz (combination of a general and a duke).
  • Some artists do it to keep their musical career and private life completely separate.
Cite this Source
Separate and Private. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/private/separate
Private & Separate. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/private/separate>.
Separate or Private. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/private/separate.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "private" and "separate" have occurred on timeline