private school

American  

noun

private schools plural

1. a school founded, conducted, and maintained by a private group rather than by the government, usually charging tuition and often following a particular philosophy, viewpoint, etc.

---

private school British  

noun

1. a school under the financial and managerial control of a private body or charitable trust, accepting mostly fee-paying pupils

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• private schools
  plural

Etymology

Origin of private school

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

private school

Now about 30 states have some version of a program that allows families to spend public money on private school tuition.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

For many, private school evokes images of elite academies, manicured campuses and plaid Catholic-school uniforms.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

The prince will follow in his father Prince William's footsteps and go to Eton College, an elite private school where entry usually begins at the age of 13.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Participating students are thriving, whether they enrolled in a private school, microschool or home school.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

Those with broader ambitions had to somehow find their way into a private school, and from there to a university in the United States or England.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• parochial school
• preparatory school