[] () the part of a country's economy that is not under the direct control of the government, but is owned by individuals and independent companies (国家经济的)私营部分;私营部门◆salary increases in the private sector 私营部门工资的增加◆government medical laboratories working in collaboration with the private sector 政府医疗实验室与私营部门相互合作◆private-sector banks/organizations 私营银行/机构➡public sector