# Public Key

idiom · CEFR C1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/public-key
Updated: 2026-07-19

## 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.