private key

nouncandidate·updated May 9, 2026

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A cryptographic key, used with a public key cryptographic algorithm, that is uniquely associated with an entity and is not made public. In an asymmetric (public) cryptosystem, the private key is associated with a public key. Depending on the algorithm, the private key may be used, for example, to: 1) Compute the corresponding public key, 2) Compute a digital signature that may be verified by the corresponding public key, 3) Decrypt keys that were encrypted by the corresponding public key, or 4) Compute a shared secret during a key-agreement transaction.

Framework senses

11 senses across 7 frameworks

National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS) Cybersecurity Lexicon1 senseview framework →

§1 · extended_definition_available: A cryptographic key that must be kept confidential and is used to enable the operation of an asymmetric (public key) cryptographic algorithm.

NISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 25 sensesview framework →

§1: The secret part of an asymmetric key pair that is typically used to digitally sign or decrypt data.
§2 · sense_2_pending_review: A cryptographic key, used with a public key cryptographic algorithm, that is uniquely associated with an entity and is not made public. In an asymmetric (public) cryptosystem, the private key is associated with a public key. Depending on the algorithm, the private key may be used, for example, to: 1) Compute the corresponding public key, 2) Compute a digital signature that may be verified by the corresponding public key, 3) Decrypt keys that were encrypted by the corresponding public key, or 4) Compute a shared secret during a key-agreement transaction.
§3 · sense_3_pending_review: A cryptographic key used with a public key cryptographic algorithm, which is uniquely associated with an entity, and not made public; it is used to generate a digital signature; this key is mathematically linked with a corresponding public key.
§4 · sense_4_pending_review: A cryptographic key, used with a public key cryptographic algorithm, that is uniquely associated with an entity and is not made public.
§5 · sense_5_pending_review: In an asymmetric cryptography scheme, the private or secret key of a key pair which must be kept confidential and is used to decrypt messages encrypted with the public key or to digitally sign messages, which can then be validated with the public key.

CNSSI-4009 (Glossary of Information Assurance Terms)1 senseview framework →

§1: In an asymmetric cryptography scheme, the private or secret key of a key pair which must be kept confidential and is used to decrypt messages encrypted with the public key or to digitally sign messages, which can then be validated with the public key.

NIST SP 800-631 senseview framework →

§1: The secret part of an asymmetric key pair that is typically used to digitally sign or decrypt data.

FIPS PUB 140-21 senseview framework →

§1: A cryptographic key, used with a public key cryptographic algorithm, that is uniquely associated with an entity and is not made public.

NIST SP 800-57 Part 11 senseview framework →

§1: A cryptographic key, used with a public key cryptographic algorithm, that is uniquely associated with an entity and is not made public. In an asymmetric (public) cryptosystem, the private key is associated with a public key. Depending on the algorithm, the private key may be used, for example, to: 1) Compute the corresponding public key, 2) Compute a digital signature that may be verified by the corresponding public key, 3) Decrypt keys that were encrypted by the corresponding public key, or 4) Compute a shared secret during a key-agreement transaction.

FIPS PUB 1961 senseview framework →

§1: A cryptographic key used with a public key cryptographic algorithm, which is uniquely associated with an entity, and not made public; it is used to generate a digital signature; this key is mathematically linked with a corresponding public key.