How do you use "Public school" in a sentence?

He went to public school—Eton, I think. Very public school manner. The public school old boys' network.

Public school

Q: What does "Public school" mean?

Elite private school (British usage) In British usage, confusingly refers to elite fee-paying schools like Eton and Harrow—not state schools. A marker of upper-class status and privilege.

Slang Term British ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Elite private school (British usage)

精英私立学校（英国用法）

Colegio privado de élite (uso británico)

エリート私立学校（イギリスでの用法）

엘리트 사립학교 (영국식 용법)

In British usage, confusingly refers to elite fee-paying schools like Eton and Harrow—not state schools. A marker of upper-class status and privilege.

在英国用法中，令人困惑地指的是伊顿、哈罗等收费昂贵的精英学校，而不是公立学校。是上层阶级地位和特权的标志。

En el uso británico, se refiere confusamente a colegios privados de élite de pago como Eton y Harrow, no a colegios públicos. Es un indicador de estatus de clase alta y privilegio.

イギリスでは紛らわしいことに、イートンやハロウなどの有名な有料私立学校を指す。公立学校ではない。上流階級の地位と特権の象徴。

영국에서는 혼란스럽게도 이튼이나 해로 같은 엘리트 유료 사립학교를 가리킨다. 공립학교가 아니다. 상류층의 지위와 특권의 상징이다.

Examples

He went to public school—Eton, I think.
他上过贵族学校——我想是伊顿
Fue a un public school: Eton, creo
彼はパブリックスクールに通った。イートンだったと思う
그는 퍼블릭 스쿨에 다녔어. 이튼이었던 것 같아.
Very public school manner.
非常贵族学校的做派
Modales muy de colegio privado de élite
いかにもパブリックスクール出身の振る舞い
전형적인 퍼블릭 스쿨 출신의 태도.
The public school old boys' network.
贵族学校的校友关系网
La red de antiguos alumnos de los colegios de élite
パブリックスクールのOBネットワーク
퍼블릭 스쿨 동문 네트워크.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: education, class discussion

Tone: factual, sometimes loaded

✓ Do Say

Public school educated
受过贵族学校教育
educado en un colegio de élite
パブリックスクール出身
퍼블릭 스쿨 출신의
Old public school tie
贵族学校的老校友关系
vínculo de antiguos alumnos de colegios de élite
パブリックスクールの絆
퍼블릭 스쿨 동문

✗ Don't Say

Confusing for Americans (who use it for state schools)
容易让美国人误解（美国用这个词指公立学校）
Puede confundir a los estadounidenses (que lo usan para colegios públicos)
アメリカ人にとっては紛らわしい（アメリカでは公立学校を指す）
미국인에게는 혼동을 줄 수 있음 (미국에서는 공립학교를 의미)

Common Mistakes

Confusing British and American meanings

Origin & History

Originally schools open to the 'public' (anyone who could pay), as opposed to private tutoring. Over time, became synonymous with elite fee-paying institutions.

Etymology: Historical: schools open to paying public

First recorded: 16th century meaning, modern usage 19th century

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century onwards

Generation: All generations

Social background: Upper and upper-middle class

Pop culture: Tom Brown's Schooldays; British establishment

Regional notes: British terminology—opposite meaning in US.

Variations

Public schoolPublic school boy/girl