public corporation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Business, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “public corporation” mean?
A commercial company or enterprise owned by the state or government.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A commercial company or enterprise owned by the state or government.
A state-owned enterprise that operates commercially, often in key industries like utilities, transport, or resources, with a degree of operational independence but ultimate government control.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, "public corporation" almost exclusively means a state-owned enterprise (e.g., the former British Rail). In American English, while it can mean a government-owned corporation (e.g., Amtrak, the USPS), it historically and occasionally overlaps with "publicly held corporation," which is now the preferred term for a company with publicly traded stock.
Connotations
UK: Connotes state ownership, often associated with post-war nationalization, privatization debates, and utilities. US: Connotes either a federal/state-owned entity (neutral/administrative) or, in legacy usage, a publicly listed company (commercial).
Frequency
Much more common in UK political, economic, and historical discourse. In US discourse, "government corporation", "state-owned enterprise (SOE)", or "publicly traded company" are more frequent and precise.
Grammar
How to Use “public corporation” in a Sentence
[the] + public corporation + VERB (operates, runs, manages)public corporation + of + [industry/country] (public corporation of the rail industry)public corporation + for + [purpose] (public corporation for water supply)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “public corporation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government moved to public corporation the failing energy network.
- The industry was public corporationed in the 1940s.
American English
- There is no standard verb form 'to public corporation' in American English. 'Nationalize' or 'municipalize' is used.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form derived directly. 'Publicly' is used but with a different meaning.]
American English
- [No standard adverb form derived directly.]
adjective
British English
- The public-corporation model of service delivery was debated.
- He had a long career in the public-corporation sector.
American English
- The public-corporation structure of the postal service is defined in law.
- Public-corporation governance rules apply.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussions of privatization, state involvement in the economy, and corporate ownership structures.
Academic
Used in economics, political science, and history papers analyzing state intervention, public sector reform, and comparative economic systems.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might appear in news reports about railways, postal services, or energy companies being sold or funded by the government.
Technical
Precise legal and economic definition of a commercial entity whose shares are held by the state on behalf of the public.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “public corporation”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “public corporation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “public corporation”
- Confusing it with 'publicly traded company'.
- Using it in informal contexts where 'government-run company' would be clearer.
- Misspelling as 'public cooperation'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not in modern primary usage. A 'public corporation' is owned by the government. A 'publicly traded company' (or 'public limited company - PLC' in the UK) has its shares traded on a stock exchange and is owned by private shareholders.
Historic/UK: British Rail, British Steel, National Coal Board. Current International: Deutsche Bahn (Germany, majority state-owned), Électricité de France (EDF), Japan Post. US: Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation), the United States Postal Service (USPS), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
To manage industries deemed strategically important (defence, utilities), to provide essential services where profit motives might fail (rural transport), to control natural resources, or to stimulate economic development in certain regions.
The opposite is a private corporation or privately held company, which is owned by private individuals or entities, not the state.
A commercial company or enterprise owned by the state or government.
Public corporation is usually formal, academic, business, journalistic in register.
Public corporation: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk ˌkɔːrpəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no strong idioms; technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think PUBLIC = owned by the public (via the government), CORPORATION = a business entity. So, a business owned by the government representing the public.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STATE AS A BUSINESS OWNER (The government runs the country like a shareholder runs a company).
Practice
Quiz
In modern British English, 'public corporation' most specifically refers to: