public-key
noun
pub·lic-key
ˈpə-blik-ˈkē 
often attributive
: a cryptographic element that is the publicly shared half of an encryption code and that can be used only to encode messages
Examples of public-key in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many regulators and agencies are targeting migration away from classical public-key cryptography in the early 2030s.
—
Maman Ibrahim,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Washington has restricted the export of sensitive technology before, from public-key cryptography in the 1970s to nuclear technology.
—
Sam Birchall,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Rodriguez points to advances in domain name system security extensions (DNSSEC), which uses digital signatures based on public-key cryptography to strengthen the authentication of the domain name system.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
6 May 2026
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Maman Ibrahim,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Washington has restricted the export of sensitive technology before, from public-key cryptography in the 1970s to nuclear technology.
—
Sam Birchall,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Rodriguez points to advances in domain name system security extensions (DNSSEC), which uses digital signatures based on public-key cryptography to strengthen the authentication of the domain name system.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Public-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public-key. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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