- In Great Britain, any of various schools maintained by the community, wholly or partly under public control or maintained largely by endowment and not carried on chiefly for profit; specifically, and commonly, any of various select and usually expensive endowed schools which give a liberal modern education or prepare pupils for the universities. Eton, Harrow, Rugby, and Winchester are of this class.
- In the United States, a free primary, grammar or high school maintained by the local government.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). public school. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/public_school/definitions/2050666 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "public school" http://smartdefine.org/public_school/definitions/2050666 (accessed September 24, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, public school, Smart Define, viewed 24 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/public_school/definitions/2050666>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "public school" 27 May 2011. Web. 24 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/public_school/definitions/2050666> |