is not privy to

USAGE SUMMARY

"is not privy to" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to someone who is not informed about or does not have access to certain confidential information. Example: "She is not privy to the details of the negotiations." Alternative expressions include "is not aware of" and "does not have access to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Babby is not privy to Marbury's situation and was speaking generally about the business.

The New York Times - Sports

Pressed for any evidence of India's role there, he offers none, admitting he is not "privy to the details".

The Economist

RBS is not privy to any details but will cooperate with any request for information made by Police Scotland," the bank said.

The Guardian - Business

The protagonist of "Train Dreams" is not privy to stoned visions, but he is a steady noticer of the natural world, and the novella's prose follows his eye, with frequent exhalations of beauty.

The New Yorker

"If she goes, the next question is who else knew?" said a former counsel at another prominent newspaper who requested to remain anonymous because he is not privy to the News Corporation's deliberations.

The New York Times

UKA is not privy to Idowu's medical files, but the 54-year-old observed the irony of the statement in the light of the triple jumper's inability to complete several earlier training sessions with Moore.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

"Mr Hampson isn't privy to the knowledge of what we've got," he told The Independent.

Independent

Obviously, Sanders isn't privy to the minds of Clinton and her top aides.

The New Yorker

She's not part of the team, so she isn't privy to their discussions, nor do they want her.

Harvard Business Review

Clues accumulate around That Night, but the reader isn't privy to the whole picture until late in the book.

The New York Times - Books

Maguire said she isn't privy to conversations about what might land the coveted green light.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is not privy to" when you want to emphasize that someone is deliberately excluded from knowing certain information, especially when that information is considered confidential or sensitive.

Common error

Avoid using "is not privy to" interchangeably with simpler terms like "unaware" if the context implies a deliberate withholding of information, not just a lack of knowledge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not privy to" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a state of lacking knowledge or access to specific information. Ludwig examples confirm that it often relates to confidential or deliberately withheld details.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is not privy to" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to indicate a lack of knowledge or access to specific information, often of a confidential nature. According to Ludwig, it frequently appears in news media, formal business settings, and scientific contexts. While "is not privy to" is considered correct and usable in English, alternative phrases like "is unaware of" or "has no knowledge of" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis. The key is to use this expression when you want to highlight the deliberate withholding of information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unaware of

Indicates a lack of knowledge about something; a more general term.

is not informed about

Highlights the absence of information being conveyed.

has no knowledge of

Emphasizes a complete lack of information.

is not aware of the details of

Specifically points to a lack of detailed information.

does not have access to

Highlights the lack of ability to obtain specific information.

is not in the know about

A more informal way of saying someone lacks inside information.

is not party to

Suggests a formal exclusion from being involved in knowledge or discussions.

lacks access to information about

Focuses on the inability to obtain information.

is not filled in on

Informal expression meaning someone hasn't been given necessary details.

is excluded from knowing about

Emphasizes exclusion from receiving information.

FAQs

What does "is not privy to" mean?

The phrase "is not privy to" means that someone is not informed about something, typically because the information is confidential or they are not meant to know it.

How can I use "is not privy to" in a sentence?

You can use "is not privy to" when referring to someone who lacks specific knowledge. For example, "She is not privy to the details of the negotiations."

What can I say instead of "is not privy to"?

You can use alternatives like "is unaware of", "has no knowledge of", or "is not informed about" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "are not privy to"?

Yes, "are not privy to" is correct when referring to a plural subject. For example, "The public are not privy to the board's internal discussions."