public

[puhb-lik]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting a population or a community as a whole.

   public funds;

   a public nuisance.

2. done, made, acting, etc., for the community as a whole.

   public prosecution.

3. open to all persons.

   a public meeting.

4. of, relating to, or being in the service of a community or nation, especially as a government officer.

   a public official.

5. maintained at the public expense and under public control.

   a public library;

   a public road.

6. generally known.

   The fact became public.

7. familiar to the public; prominent.

   public figures.

8. open to the view of all; existing or conducted in public.

   a public dispute.

9. pertaining or devoted to the welfare or well-being of the community.

   public spirit.

10. of or relating to all humankind; universal.

noun

1. the people constituting a community, state, or nation.

2. a particular group of people with a common interest, aim, etc..

   the book-buying public.

3. British Informal.,  a tavern; public house.

public

/ ˈpʌblɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or concerning the people as a whole

2. open or accessible to all

   public gardens

3. performed or made openly or in the view of all

   public proclamation

4. (prenominal) well-known or familiar to people in general

   a public figure

5. (usually prenominal) maintained at the expense of, serving, or for the use of a community

   a public library

6. open, acknowledged, or notorious

   a public scandal

7. 1. (of a private company) to issue shares for subscription by the public

   2. to reveal publicly hitherto confidential information

noun

1. the community or people in general

2. a part or section of the community grouped because of a common interest, activity, etc

   the racing public

Other Word Forms

• nonpublic adjective
• quasi-public adjective
• quasi-publicly adverb
• unpublic adjective
• unpublicly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of public¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin pūblicus, earlier pōblicus, pōplicus (spelling influenced by pūbēs “adulthood”; pubes ), ultimately from popul(us) people + -icus -ic; replacing late Middle English publique, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of public¹

C15: from Latin pūblicus, changed from pōplicus of the people, from populus people

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in public, not in private; in a situation open to public view or access; publicly.

   It was the first time that she had sung in public.

2. go public,

   1. to issue stock for sale to the general public.

   2. to present private or previously concealed information, news, etc., to the public; make matters open to public view.

      The senator threatened to go public with his congressional-reform plan.

3. make public, to cause to become known generally, as through the news media.

   Her resignation was made public this morning.

see go public; in public; in the public eye; John Doe (Q. Public); wash one's dirty linen in public.

Example Sentences

In recent months, the Republican-controlled Congress has passed more than $9 billion in rescission External link bills to repeal Inflation Reduction Act climate funds, Internal Revenue Service enforcement budgets, public broadcasting, and pandemic-era infrastructure spending.

Read more on Barron's

Based on the data, first-generation immigrants consume a bit more at the local level in public services than they pay in income taxes.

Read more on Barron's

Instead, Myrow said, it will take a more general breakdown in basic government services before the public gets angry enough to force lawmakers back to the table.

Read more on Barron's

The super rich bought coverage, shaped public opinion and ensured the future was theirs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The showily exoticized wallpaper, sold throughout Europe and in North America by celebrated manufacturer Joseph Dufour, was the culmination of Western public fascination with British Royal Navy Capt. James Cook’s three voyages to the Pacific.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• civic 
• civil 
• communal 
• governmental www.thesaurus.com
• mutual 
• national 
• popular 
• social 
• universal 
• urban 

When To Use

What does public mean?

Public is the people who make up a community, state, or nation, as in When a government raises taxes, the public has a right to know. A single person in this context is a member of the public.Related to that, public is used to describe many things connected to the public, such as something related to it (public funds), providing a benefit to it (public school), or providing a service (public official).Public can also describe something that is open or available to everyone, such as a public event or public information.And public can describe something or someone known by the public. A celebrity is someone well known by very many people, so they are sometimes called public figures.Example: Schools funded by the public are generally open to all students in the area.