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 legislature decided last year to create the $500 million fund that would normally have been used to pay down pension debt in the same way that the state has set aside about $10 billion since 2021 in additional supplemental funds into the funds for state employees and public school teachers. —Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026

From selecting and renewing school principal contracts to approving budgetary resources and academic plans, members of local school councils play an important role in the country’s fourth-largest public school district. —Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026

Representatives are scheduled to debate Senate Bill 523, which would allow public schools and colleges and universities to consider antisemitism in the same manner as discrimination based on religion. —Adam Beam, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026

For that money, Floridians get police and fire services, parks, environmental preservation, public schools, animal control, responsible growth planning and much more. —Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 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