The wrongful or unlawful misuse of power in one's duties, either at the expense of others or to the advantage of the abuser. The governor displayed a flagrant abuse of privileges, channeling state funds toward a project owned by her son-in-law at the expense of more worthwhile causes. The moderator was deemed to have committed an abuse of privileges, deleting comments that opposed his own.

The preponderance of power and opportunities available to men in society. (In common usage, the term is restricted to men who conform to normative masculinity.) Male privilege means you can walk down the street without giving a second thought to your safety.

slang Be mindful of any societal benefits that you receive or any discrimination that you avoid due to your skin color, gender, socioeconomic status, or other elements of your identity. As a rich white dude, you might want to check your privilege before criticizing the poor people who live in this part of the city.