private sector

American  

noun

1. the area of the nation's economy under private rather than governmental control.

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private sector British  

noun

1. the part of a country's economy that consists of privately owned enterprises Compare public sector

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private sector Cultural  

1. That part of an economy in which goods and services are produced by individuals and companies as opposed to the government, which controls the public sector.

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Etymology

Origin of private sector

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Diaz-Canel made the remarks at a meeting called to fast-track reforms aimed at boosting the growing private sector and attracting more capital from millions of Cubans who have fled the crisis abroad.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

Some experts believe similar help is available in the UK via the private sector, but agree provision needs to be improved on the NHS.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

“Thousands of people are plaintiffs in this action, which names 18 public and private sector defendants. The City Attorney’s Office is responsible for defending the City and DWP in this lawsuit.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

“If they can’t get sufficient investment from the private sector to maximize AI development and deployment, then they will consider taking stakes in some subset of it,” Haines told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

Thinking he could fare better in the private sector, he eventually quit the force to go into business with friends.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung