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

He worked some in the public sector, winning a seat as a county commissioner in Omaha in the late 1980s, and he chaired the state ethanol board.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Though the government announced last month that it would shorten the work day for public sector employees to ease the electricity crisis, several parts of Caracas have begun experiencing power cuts.

From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026

In a statement on Tuesday, Weber touted Amazon’s “fast, reliable satellite broadband” meant to meet the demands of “enterprise, public sector, and government customers.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

Growth in regular earnings - which excludes bonuses - picked up slightly, although this was driven by a rise in public sector wages.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

In an effort to ensure financial stability and sustainability, the government is pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some government functions and personnel cuts.

From The 2008 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency