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.

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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

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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

About $1,200 of her total went toward uniforms for her daughter’s private school, where single shirts and jackets from designated vendors can cost $50 to $70 each.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

My parents couldn’t afford private school, so I took the admissions test for Stuyvesant, one of the city’s finest public high schools.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Last year, she opened a private school there with ease.

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

Purnell is the private school where Jonah used to go before his dad died.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• parochial school
• preparatory school