Idiom idiom
Public Key
Meaning
A cryptographic key that can be shared with others to receive funds or verify signatures.
Examples
“Send me your public key so I can transfer the funds.”
“She published her public key so that clients could verify the signature on each message.”
“A public key is derived from the private key through one-way cryptography, so sharing it reveals nothing about the secret that controls the wallet.”
Origin
Coined as the opposite of a private key; public because it can be shared openly.
Last updated July 19, 2026