public sector

American  

noun

1. the area of the nation's affairs under governmental rather than private control.

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public sector British  

noun

1. the part of an economy that consists of state-owned institutions, including nationalized industries and services provided by local authorities Compare private sector

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public sector Cultural  

1. That part of the economy controlled by the government. (Compare private sector.)

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Etymology

Origin of public sector

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public sector

California’s largest public sector union and the court reporters it represents warn the decision could allow the state’s court systems to stop hiring stenographers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

There is also a contribution from public sector "asset sales" - such as government-owned land - which is set to raise around £275m per year on average over the next four years.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

The public sector recorded widespread increases, led for a second straight month by public administration and higher activity across all levels of government for the month.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

"We will be working collaboratively with public sector bodies to better understand the contribution they can make to increasing canopy cover in Wales," they added.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

To overcome these challenges, the Greek   Government is expected to continue cutting government spending,   reducing the size of the public sector, and reforming the labor and   pension systems.

From The 2006 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency