public-key
noun
pub·lic-key
ˈpə-blik-ˈkē 
often attributive
: a cryptographic element that is the publicly shared half of an encryption code and that can be used only to encode messages
Examples of public-key in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Why Payments Rails Feel the Quantum Heat First Card networks, instant-payment switches, and mobile wallets rely on public-key cryptography: the RSA and elliptic-curve algorithms that every ISO 8583 or ISO 20022 message depends on.
—
Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Introduced more than a decade ago by a consortium of companies, Secure Boot uses public-key cryptography to block the loading of any code during the boot-up process that isn't signed with a pre-approved digital signature.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2025
Map all dependencies on public-key cryptography across digital certificates, identity providers, API authentication mechanisms and secure communications.
—Dino Dimarino, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
These mathematical solutions are designed to be used to replace today’s public-key encryption.
—John Prisco, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Begin Testing: Set up lab environments to test PQC public-key encryption and prepare signature validation software for the new algorithms.
—Ted Shorter, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
There are two primary types of encryption: symmetric, which uses the same key for encryption and decryption, and asymmetric (public-key encryption), which utilizes separate public and private keys.
—Mukul Garg, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Password managers greatly reduce the risk of data breaches by providing multiple layers of encryption, including public-key cryptography, directly on your device.
—Darren Guccione, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Identify all areas where public-key cryptography is used, including data storage, communication protocols, software libraries and digital certificates.
—Ali El Kaafarani, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
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Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Introduced more than a decade ago by a consortium of companies, Secure Boot uses public-key cryptography to block the loading of any code during the boot-up process that isn't signed with a pre-approved digital signature.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2025
Map all dependencies on public-key cryptography across digital certificates, identity providers, API authentication mechanisms and secure communications.
—Dino Dimarino, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
These mathematical solutions are designed to be used to replace today’s public-key encryption.
—John Prisco, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Begin Testing: Set up lab environments to test PQC public-key encryption and prepare signature validation software for the new algorithms.
—Ted Shorter, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
There are two primary types of encryption: symmetric, which uses the same key for encryption and decryption, and asymmetric (public-key encryption), which utilizes separate public and private keys.
—Mukul Garg, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Password managers greatly reduce the risk of data breaches by providing multiple layers of encryption, including public-key cryptography, directly on your device.
—Darren Guccione, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Identify all areas where public-key cryptography is used, including data storage, communication protocols, software libraries and digital certificates.
—Ali El Kaafarani, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Public-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public-key. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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