public sector

American  

noun

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

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public sector British  

noun

1. the part of an economy that consists of state-owned institutions, including nationalized industries and services provided by local authorities Compare private sector

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public sector Cultural  

1. That part of the economy controlled by the government. (Compare private sector.)

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Etymology

Origin of public sector

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

China’s public sector is not just talking about humanoid robots; it is spending money to buy them or fund deployments, helping startups get early revenue and proving grounds.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

China’s public sector is not just talking about humanoid robots; it is spending money to buy them or fund deployments, helping startups get early revenue and proving grounds.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Gilruth said she would work with Ivan McKee, who was appointed the minister for public sector reform this week, on "driving some of the efficiencies we need to see".

From BBC • May 24, 2026

Workplace attendance for the public sector, which employs most of the workforce, remains capped at 50%.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

The public sector, i.e., the central government and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland, accounting for about two-thirds of total employment.

From The 1996 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency