private key

American  

[prahy-vit kee] / ˈpraɪ vɪt ˈki /

noun

• private keys
  plural

1. Computers. a decryption key known only to its owner, allowing the decryption of messages that have been encrypted using a public key with which it is paired.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• private keys
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

private key

The assumption here is that existing computers are unable to reverse-engineer a private key from a public key.

From Barron's ● Apr. 1, 2026

Academic studies have suggested that these cryptographically relevant quantum computers may be able to unlock a private key “in mere hours or days.”

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 19, 2026

Twitter encryption also doesn’t provide what’s called “forward secrecy,” which would prevent an attacker who gets hold of a user’s private key from using it to read earlier and subsequent messages.

From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2023

When someone says Alice “owns” a Bitcoin, they typically mean she controls the private key to a blockchain address, either directly or via a cryptocurrency wallet.

From The Verge ● Jun. 8, 2022

They felt very important using their private key to get into the school.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith