: a Eurasian deciduous shrub (Ligustrum vulgare) of the olive family with semievergreen leaves and small white flowers that is widely used for hedges
broadly
: any of various shrubs of the same genus
Examples of privet in a Sentence
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One of the fastest growing shrubs on this list, north privet matures rapidly to a height of up to 8 to 12 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide.
—
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
Research whether privet overcrowds native plants in your area and supports local wildlife before planting.
—Sarah Everett, The Spruce, 11 May 2026
The Path was maybe three feet wide, broken cement, overhung in places by my grandmother’s privet hedge, whose tiny white blossoms carried the scent of my Brooklyn childhood.
—Gabrielle Glancy, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2026
Waxleaf privet is one of the easiest care topiary trees.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2026
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Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
Research whether privet overcrowds native plants in your area and supports local wildlife before planting.
—Sarah Everett, The Spruce, 11 May 2026
The Path was maybe three feet wide, broken cement, overhung in places by my grandmother’s privet hedge, whose tiny white blossoms carried the scent of my Brooklyn childhood.
—Gabrielle Glancy, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2026
Waxleaf privet is one of the easiest care topiary trees.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for privet
Cite this Entry
“Privet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privet. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
privet
noun
priv·et
ˈpriv-ət 
: a shrub that is related to the olive, has small white flowers, and is widely used for hedges
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