Definition

Noun: 1. An educational institution funded and operated by private individuals or organizations: A private school is a school that is established, managed, and financed through private means, such as tuition fees paid by students, endowments (donated funds), and private funding, rather than by government or public funding. It operates independently of the state education system.

Usage

• The term "private school" is used to distinguish an institution from publicly funded "state schools" or "public schools."
• It is a countable noun (e.g., a private school, several private schools).
• It describes the funding and governance model of the school, not necessarily a specific curriculum or type of education (e.g., religious, boarding, preparatory).

Examples

• Noun:
  • Parents chose to send their children to a private school for smaller class sizes.
  • The private school is supported by tuition and a large endowment from its alumni.
  • Attending a private school can be very expensive.

Advanced Usage

• "independent school": In some regions, this is a synonym for "private school," emphasizing its operational independence from government control.
• The concept contrasts with "public school" (in the U.S., a state-funded school) and "state school" (in the UK, a government-funded school).

Variants and Related Words

• Independent school (n): Often used interchangeably with "private school."
• Public school (n): In the U.S., this means a government-funded school. In the UK, it refers to a specific type of prestigious, long-established private boarding school (e.g., Eton College), which can be a source of confusion.
• Tuition (n): The fee charged for instruction by a private school.
• Endowment (n): Funds or property donated to an institution, like a private school, to provide ongoing income.

Synonyms

• Independent school
• Fee-paying school
• Non-state school

Antonyms

• Public school (U.S. meaning)
• State school
• Government school

Noun

1. a school established and controlled privately and supported by endowment and tuition