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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

private sector

But in recent years, the bank also has marshaled capital investments from the private sector at an unprecedented clip, according to new data it published Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

Agency for International Development, which aimed to grow the private sector after the Soviet Union’s breakup.

From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026

The government argues that competitive salaries are necessary to deter corruption and attract top talent from the private sector.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

He added that El Niño, as well as global shipping disruption and the threat of pandemics, mean you cannot "just rely on the private sector coming through every single time".

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 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