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

New Orleans-area public schools are also prominent in the rollout. —Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 10 Dec. 2025

Wisconsin public schools will receive a lower special education reimbursement rate than was pledged in the state budget. —Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 9 Dec. 2025

Failure to do so could prevent Arizona public schools from receiving $866 million in federal funding, according to the Department of Education. —Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 9 Dec. 2025

All public schools in Raleigh, North Carolina, shuttered because of the weather, according to the Wake County Public School System, the state's largest school district with over 161,000 students. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 8 Dec. 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