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

The rankings only include traditional public schools, charter schools, and magnet schools that had a 12th-grade enrollment of 15 students or greater. —Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 19 Aug. 2025

The principal is the education program’s administrator, the release noted, and is responsible for communicating with students’ public schools to help with transfers. —Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Tony Evers uses veto powers to extend annual increases for public schools for the next four centuries, July 6, 2023. —Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Licensed teachers employed full-time by a K-12 public school district in Tennessee during the 2024-25 school year qualify for the bonuses, according to the new state law. —Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Aug. 2025

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