View source for Very important person

{{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 [[privilege (legal ethics)|privilege]]s due to their high social rank, [[social status|status]], [[social influence|influence]], or [[Importance (disambiguation)|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]], [[head of state|heads of state]] or [[head of government|government]], other high-ranking [[politicians]], or any other socially notable person who receives special treatment for any reason.<ref name=":0"/> The special treatment usually involves separation from [[Commoner|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 [[Ticket (admission)|ticket]]s, 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 terminal|airport terminals]] may be used by foreign ministers, [[Ambassador|ambassadors]] or high-ranking government personalities, provided that they are [[Reciprocity (international relations)|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>

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]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Popularity]]
[[Category:Positions of authority]]
[[Category:Social status]]
[[Category:Titles]]
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