privity

The contract was signed with the privity of both parties.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Private knowledge or awareness: "privity" refers to the state of being aware of or having private knowledge of something, often with an implication of shared or confidential information.
   • Legal relationship: In law, "privity" denotes a mutual or successive relationship between parties, especially concerning rights or obligations, such as privity of contract (the connection between parties to a contract) or privity of estate (the relationship between landlord and tenant).

Usage Examples

• Private knowledge:

  • The transaction was conducted with the privity of the board members. (The board members were privately aware of and consented to the transaction.)
  • He acted without my privity, so I cannot be held responsible. (He acted without my knowledge or consent.)

• Legal relationship:

  • Privity of contract means that only the parties who signed the agreement can enforce its terms. (The legal connection between contract signatories.)
  • The landlord and tenant are in privity of estate, giving each certain rights and duties. (The legal relationship arising from a lease.)

Advanced Usage

• "with the privity of": with the private knowledge and consent of someone.

  • The decision was made with the privity of the CEO. (The CEO was privately informed and agreed.)

• "without privity": without knowledge or consent.

  • The employee signed the contract without the privity of his supervisor. (The supervisor was unaware.)

• "privity of contract": the legal doctrine that only parties to a contract can sue or be sued on it.

  • Under privity of contract, a third party cannot enforce the agreement. (The legal principle restricts enforcement to signatories.)

Variants and Related Words

• Privy (adj): sharing in the knowledge of something secret or private.

  • She was privy to the confidential plans. (She had secret knowledge of the plans.)

• Privately (adv): in a private manner; without public knowledge.

  • The matter was discussed privately. (It was discussed in confidence.)

Synonyms

• Knowledge: awareness, cognizance, acquaintance.
• Consent: approval, agreement, permission.
• Relationship: connection, link, privity of contract.

Related Idioms

• "In privity with": being in a confidential or legal relationship with someone.

  • The lawyer was in privity with her client, protecting their communications. (They shared a confidential legal relationship.)

• "Privity of blood": a legal term referring to the relationship between ancestors and descendants, important in inheritance law.

  • Privity of blood determined the succession to the estate. (The blood relationship affected inheritance rights.)