public school

noun

1

: an endowed secondary boarding school in Great Britain offering a classical curriculum and preparation for the universities or public service

2

: a free tax-supported school controlled by a local governmental authority

Examples of public school in a Sentence

Both of their sons attend public school.

Recent Examples on the Web

Local public schools cut 50,000 jobs in July, restaurants and bars 26,000, retailers 19,000. — Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026

Reading scores of New York City public school students plummeted this past school year, erasing improvements in the subject recorded a year before, sparking calls from the teachers’ union for a change in approach. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026

Economists noted that private payrolls continued to grow in July and that the big drop in public school payrolls might have been a statistical glitch caused by seasonal adjustments. — Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Most of them were concentrated among public school teachers who were ending the academic year. — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for public school

• minuscule
• molecule
• overrule
• poiseuille
• reticule
• ridicule
• vestibule
• ampoule
• bascule
• carpool
• cesspool
• ferrule

Kids Definition

public school

noun

1

: a British private school that gives a liberal education and prepares students for the universities

2

: an elementary or secondary school supported by taxes and operated by a local government