public sector

noun

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

public sector

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

public sector

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of public sector¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

About a third of private sector employees and a tenth of public sector workers use a salary sacrifice scheme for their pension savings.

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A third of private sector employees and a tenth of public sector workers use a salary sacrifice scheme for their pension savings.

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In May 2025, the government announced pay rises for a number of public sector workers, including:

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France’s Mistral AI and Germany’s SAP have teamed up to launch a sovereign AI platform to protect European data in the public sector and regulated industries.

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The public sector’s deficit equals the private sector’s surplus.

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