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 that is often used by celebrities and high-ranking government officials]]
A very important person (VIP or V.I.P.) or personage{{OEtymD|vip |access-date=2020-07-07}} is a person who is accorded special privileges due to their high social rank, status, influence, or importance.{{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}}{{cite Collins Dictionary|vip |access-date=2020-07-07}} The term was not common until sometime after World War II when it was popularised by Royal Air Force pilots.{{additional citation needed|date=July 2020}}
Examples include celebrities, heads of state or government, other high-ranking politicians, or any other socially notable person who receives special treatment for any reason. The special treatment usually involves separation from common people, and a higher level of comfort or service.{{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}}
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.{{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 }}
Sometimes, the term very very important person (VVIP or V.V.I.P.) is also used,[http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/VVIP Free Dictionary definition], accessed 15 June 2016 especially with reference to VIPs with very high socioeconomic rank or purchasing power.[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 It is used especially when anyone can buy VIP treatment, to distinguish people with especially high requirements.{{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}} V.V.V.I.P. (or VVVIP) can denote even another, higher level of exclusivity.{{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}}