# public purse

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/public-purse
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A quantity of money collected by a government through taxation and other methods, and used for public purposes; public funds, public money.

## Examples

- The government uses the public purse to pay for new roads.
- The city council debated how to use the public purse to improve local schools and parks.
- Critics argued that the administration failed to manage the public purse responsibly, leading to significant deficits during the economic downturn.

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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.