{{short description|Person with privileges due to their status}} {{for|the film|Very Important Person (film){{!}}''Very Important Person'' (film)}} {{redirect2|VIP|VIPs|the peptide hormone|Vasoactive intestinal peptide|other uses|VIP (disambiguation)|and|VIPs (disambiguation)}} [[File:VIP Terminal at Vienna International Airport.jpg|thumb|The VIP Terminal at Vienna International Airport that is often used by celebrities and high-ranking government officials]] A '''very important person''' ('''VIP''' or '''V.I.P.''') or '''personage'''<ref name=":1">{{OEtymD|vip |access-date=2020-07-07}}</ref> is a person who is accorded special privileges due to their high social rank, status, influence, or importance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=very%20important%20person |title=Very Important Person |publisher=Trustees of Princeton University |access-date=2011-05-23}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite Collins Dictionary|vip |access-date=2020-07-07}}</ref> The term was not common until sometime after World War II when it was popularised by Royal Air Force pilots.<ref name=":1"/>{{additional citation needed|date=July 2020}}
Examples include celebrities, heads of state or government, other high-ranking politicians, religious leaders, high-net-worth individuals, or any other socially notable person who receives special treatment for any reason.<ref name=":0"/> The special treatment usually involves separation from common people, and a higher level of comfort or service.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Waida|first=Maria|title=20 Impressive VIP Event Ideas|url=https://blog.bizzabo.com/vip-event-ideas|access-date=2020-07-07|publisher=blog.bizzabo.com|date=3 January 2019}}</ref>
== Commerce == In some cases, such as with tickets, VIP may be used as a title in a similar way to ''premium'' or ''exclusive.'' Usually in airports, VIP tickets can be purchased by anyone, but still meaning separation from other customers, own security checks etc.
VIP airport terminals may be used by foreign ministers, ambassadors or high-ranking government personalities, provided that they are officially invited by the receiving country's government.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Spadinger |first=Wolfgang |url=https://www.unodc.org/pdf/missions/Protocol_Guide_06_2012.pdf |title=Guide on Protocol and Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities |publisher=United Nations |year=2012 }}</ref>
== VVIP == Sometimes, the term ''very very important person'' (''VVIP'' or ''V.V.I.P.'') is also used,<ref>[http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/VVIP Free Dictionary definition], accessed 15 June 2016</ref> especially with reference to VIPs with very high socioeconomic rank or purchasing power.<ref>[https://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2010/12/23/meet-the-vvip-very-very-important-people/ Meet the VVIP (Very Very Important People)], ''Wall Street Journal'' 23 December 2010. Requires subscription. Retrieved 15 June 2016</ref> It is used especially when anyone can buy VIP treatment, to distinguish people with especially high requirements.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vritika|date=2013-09-27|title=Difference between VIP and VVIP|url=http://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-vip-and-vvip|access-date=2020-07-07|publisher=differencebetween.info}}</ref> ''V.V.V.I.P.'' (or VVVIP) can denote even another, higher level of exclusivity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-11-30|title=When V.I.P. Isn't Exclusive Enough: Welcome to V.V.I.P.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/30/sports/soccer/qatar-world-cup-vip.html|access-date=2022-11-30|publisher=NY Times}}</ref><ref>[https://www.highriskenforcement.com/ Private Security Firm]</ref>
== See also == * High-net-worth individual * VVIP (disambiguation)
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Popularity Category:Positions of authority Category:Social status Category:Titles {{term-stub}}