Privilege

A privilege—etymologically "private law" or law relating to a specific individual—is an honour, or permissive activity granted by another person or even a government. A privilege is not a right and in some cases can be revoked. For example in most countries driving on publicly-maintained roads is a privilege, if one violates certain rules driving privileges can be revoked.

Defining the difference between a 'privilege' and a 'right' is difficult. In authentic democracies a 'privilege' is granted to a few after birth, and a 'right' is an entitlement to all mankind from birth. A privileged class, in less-than-perfect democracies, is often embodied in power and wealth. Compare elite.

One of the objectives of the French Revolution was the abolition of privileges. This meant the removal of separate laws for different social classes (nobility, clergy and ordinary people), and subjecting everyone to the same common law.