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

Mayor Cherelle Parker on Wednesday defended her plan to tax ride-hailing services to help fund Philadelphia public schools. —Dan Snyder, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026

Billions for our public schools and public transit. —Senator Ed Markey, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026

To remove a child from public school in Connecticut, parents currently need only to inform their school district in writing. —Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 15 Apr. 2026

Under his leadership, the nonprofit Associates in Research and Education for Development has partnered with public schools and education authorities to expand bilingual education that integrates native languages with French from the earliest years of learning. —Catherine Russell, Time, 15 Apr. 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