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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

private sector

It said it was urging private sector entities "to block transactions with or derived from addresses TraderTraitor actors are using to launder these stolen assets."

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

Flash PMI data showed that business activity is diverging across different markets as geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions affect the private sector and inflation to various extents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Diffusing the workload, former members say, allows for regular interaction with elected officials and the private sector.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

The lack of hiring was especially stark in 2025, when the U.S. private sector produced a paltry 296,000 new jobs over the course of an entire year.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

He’d carried the load admirably, inspiring people like Barack and Valerie to move out of the private sector and into community work and public service.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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