public-spirited

[ puhb-lik-spir-i-tid ]

adjective

1. having or showing an unselfish interest in the public welfare:

   a public-spirited citizen.

public-spirited

adjective

1. having or showing active interest in public welfare or the good of the community

Other Words From

• public-spirit·ed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of public-spirited¹

First recorded in 1640–50

Example Sentences

It’s the sine qua non of public-spirited medical options, and it’s our shame and misfortune that it has been redefined by the Paxtons of this world as a strictly personal choice.

From Los Angeles Times

His suggestion that an army of “public-spirited volunteers” could act as essentially Wikipedia editors for social media falsehoods is a good one.

From Washington Post

In his research, Answer Man came across two other only-in-D.C. games, though they were not as public-spirited as Metro Mania.

From Washington Post

But public-spirited citizens, with the aid of a little technological innovation, rose to the challenge!

From Washington Post

But she designed hundreds of more public-spirited buildings, including headquarters for charities run by Chinese American and Japanese American communities.

From New York Times