public interest
Americannoun
-
the welfare or well-being of the general public; commonwealth.
health programs that directly affect the public interest.
-
appeal or relevance to the general populace.
a news story of public interest.
Other Word Forms
- public-interest adjective
Etymology
Origin of public interest
First recorded in 1670–80
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The harder she tried to cover up the Epstein files, the more public interest in them grew.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
She added that it was "in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings".
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
But the overriding public interest here is getting scarce spectrum into the hands of companies that can put it to good use.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
“The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026
Berkeley attracted the most promising young graduate students, hosted the most eminent visiting lecturers, pocketed the largest contributions from research foundations and garnered the lion’s share of public interest and acclaim.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
