public house

American  

noun

1. British. a tavern.

2. an inn or hostelry.

---

public house British  

noun

1. the formal name for pub

2. an inn, tavern, or small hotel

---

Etymology

Origin of public house

First recorded in 1565–75

Example Sentences

The West Midlands is home to many of the establishments, which combine a public house with Indian food and Punjabi music, and symbolise integration despite origins in segregation.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2025

"This year it is a public house at Fotheringhaye," he says.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2023

A record of customers will be kept, challenging the ethos of a public house open to all without membership or registration.

From Reuters • Jul. 2, 2020

Also, in the private rented sector, it is more likely to be people on exceedingly low incomes who will use the off-licence, not the public house.

From The Guardian • Dec. 1, 2018

“I talked it over with a few members of the council and we decided that it would be quite all right for you to use the public house if you would care to.”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss